India’s Mahit Sandhu showcased brilliance by winning four medals at the 25th Summer Deaflympics, 2025, held in Tokyo. Sandhu bagged two golds and two silvers. She completed her superb run with a gold medal in the women’s 50m Rifle Three Position event. After 45 shots, she totaled a score of 456. South Korea’s Dain Jeong took home silver with a score of 453.5, and Hungary’s Mira Zsuzsanna Biatovszki won bronze with a score of 438.6.
With the victory, Sandhu broke both the Deaf Qualification and the Deaflympics world records in her final performance. In the finals she qualified with scores of 585-31x that included 194 in kneeling, 198 in prone, and 193 in standing shots. She broke her previous score of 576 set in the 2024 World Deaf Shooting Championships held in Hannover. After her 41st shot, she ended up producing four consecutive 10s to seal the win to her name.
India’s Natasha Joshi was also in the finals but ended up in fifth position with a score of 417.1. So far in competition, Indian shooters have won 14 medals at the Deaflympics 2025, which includes five golds, six silvers, and three bronze medals.
Meanwhile, India’s Abhinav Deshwal and Chetan Hanmant Sapkal will fight for their title in the 25m pistol event. Unlike shooting, Indian shuttlers suffered disappointments. They failed to bring any medals in the individual events.
The Punjab-based Sandhu believes she will continue to perform and give her best in the international matches and represent her country worldwide.
Sandhu on the win
After her victory at the Deaflympics 2025, Sandhu expressed her excitement at achieving four medals for her country, which included her maiden gold medal, which was not just one but two in separate events. It was her dedication and confidence, along with the dreams that she carried, that made her a true champion shooter of India.
She said, “All four medals are extremely special to me… Gold was a dream, silver is also a matter of pride. In the final, there was only one thought— to give my best for the country.”
(Inputs sourced from TOI, The Bridge)
