New Delhi, 6 December (H.S.):
Indian trap shooter Zoravar Singh Sandhu has been honoured with the ISSF People’s Choice Men’s Athlete of the Year 2025 award following a global online vote held in Doha, Qatar, on Friday. The 48-year-old marksman won widespread acclaim earlier this year after clinching a bronze medal in the men’s trap event at the Shotgun World Championship in Athens — his first individual podium finish in 18 years.
Zoravar’s achievement also marked India’s third-ever individual medal in the trap event at the World Championships. Before him, Manavjit Singh Sandhu (gold, 2006) and Maharaja Karni Singh (silver, 1962) were the only Indians to have reached that milestone.
A gold medallist at the 2023 Asian Games, Zoravar surged ahead of compatriot and former world champion Rudrankksh Patil in the final round of the global voting to claim the prestigious honour. The award reflects not only his consistency and longevity in the sport but also his continued excellence on the international stage.
In the women’s category, Norway’s Jeanette Hegg Duestad — the reigning world champion in the 50 m rifle three positions — secured both the Women’s Rifle Athlete of the Year and the People’s Choice Women’s Athlete of the Year titles. Her compatriot Jon-Hermann Hegg was named Men’s Rifle Athlete of the Year.
China’s Hu Kai and Sun Yuchi were declared Men’s and Women’s Pistol Athletes of the Year respectively, while the Men’s and Women’s Shotgun Athletes of the Year titles went to the USA’s Vincent Hancock and Samantha Simonton.
The complete list of ISSF Athlete of the Year 2025 winners:
Men’s Rifle Athlete of the Year: Jon-Hermann Hegg (Norway)
Women’s Rifle Athlete of the Year: Jeanette Hegg Duestad (Norway)Men’s Pistol Athlete of the Year: Hu Kai (China)Women’s Pistol Athlete of the Year: Sun Yuchi (China)Men’s Shotgun Athlete of the Year: Vincent Hancock (USA)Women’s Shotgun Athlete of the Year: Samantha Simonton (USA)People’s Choice Men’s Athlete of the Year: Zoravar Singh Sandhu (India)
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
