Millie Shah and fellow Indian para-shooter Rakesh Nidagundi created a notable moment for Indian para-shooting at the Changwon 2026 WSPS World Championships in South Korea. On September 16, 2026, Millie Shah won a gold medal in the R2 women’s team event, while Rakesh Nidagundi secured silver in the R1 men’s team event. These performances gave India its first-ever team medals in rifle at the Para Shooting World Championships.

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India’s Historic Rifle Medals

The achievements of Millie Shah and Rakesh Nidagundi were significant for India because both medals came in rifle team events. India has been building a stronger presence in para-sports in recent years, with athletes competing successfully at major international competitions.

At Changwon, the Indian shooters competed against para-athletes from several countries in the World Shooting Para Sport (WSPS) World Championships. Millie Shah was part of a strong women’s team that included Tokyo and Paris Paralympic medallist Avani Lekhara and Mona Agarwal.

The Indian women’s team produced a total score of 1878.6 points to take the gold medal in the R2 event.

Millie Shah’s Gold Medal Performance

Millie Shah represented India in the R2 women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 team event. She competed alongside Mona Agarwal and Avani Lekhara.

The Indian trio maintained a strong performance throughout the competition and finished at the top with 1878.6 points. Their gold medal became one of the key highlights of India’s campaign at the Changwon championship.

The result also highlighted the depth of India’s para-shooting team, with experienced athletes and emerging shooters competing together at the international level.

Rakesh Nidagundi Wins Silver

Rakesh Nidagundi also contributed to India’s historic rifle medal tally at the championship. He competed in the R1 men’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 team event along with Anandha Krishna and Swaroop Unhalkar.

The Indian men’s team scored 1856.3 points and finished with the silver medal.

Together, the gold won by Millie Shah’s team and the silver won by Nidagundi’s team marked India’s first team medals in rifle at the Para Shooting World Championships.

What Is the WSPS World Championships?

The World Shooting Para Sport (WSPS) World Championships is a major international competition for para-shooters. It is governed by World Shooting Para Sport and brings together athletes competing in different rifle and pistol events.

The competition includes athletes from different sport classes. These classifications are designed to ensure fair competition between athletes with different physical impairments.

The Changwon 2026 championship included rifle and pistol competitions and provided an important international platform for para-shooters preparing for future major competitions.

Understanding the SH1 Classification

The athletes involved in the Indian rifle teams competed in the SH1 classification. This classification is used in para-shooting for athletes who can hold and control the firearm without the need for a shooting stand or similar support.

The classification system is an important part of para-sport because athletes are grouped according to how their impairment affects their ability to perform in the sport.

In the Changwon competition, both Indian teams competed in standing rifle events under the SH1 category.

Strong Indian Women’s Rifle Team

The gold medal-winning Indian women’s team brought together Millie Shah, Mona Agarwal and Avani Lekhara.

Avani Lekhara is one of India’s prominent para-shooters, while the performance of Millie Shah and the team added another important achievement to India’s growing para-shooting record.

The combination of experienced athletes and developing shooters is helping India build a wider pool of competitors in international para-shooting.

Training at Vijayi Bharat Foundation

Both Millie Shah and Rakesh Nidagundi are associated with the Vijayi Bharat Foundation. The foundation operates a High-Performance Centre that supports the training and preparation of para-shooters.

High-performance training centres play an important role in modern sports. Athletes require regular technical training, competition experience, fitness preparation and access to specialised equipment to perform at the highest level.

For para-shooters, specialised training and appropriate equipment are particularly important because shooting requires precision, stability, concentration and consistent technique.

Changwon Becomes an Important Venue

Changwon in South Korea has hosted major international shooting competitions and continues to be an important venue for the sport.

The 2026 WSPS World Championships brought together para-shooters from different countries and gave athletes an opportunity to compete at a high international level.

For India, the Changwon championship became particularly important because of the historic rifle team medals won by its athletes.

South Korea Leads the Medal Table

South Korea finished at the top of the medal table at the Changwon 2026 WSPS World Championships. The host nation won 21 medals, including 10 gold, four silver and seven bronze medals.

The championship concluded on September 16, 2026, after bringing together leading para-shooters from around the world.

India’s two rifle team medals added to the country’s growing participation and achievements in international para-sports.

Growing Importance of Para-Shooting in India

The performance of Millie Shah, Rakesh Nidagundi and their teammates reflects the increasing development of para-shooting in India. Indian para-athletes have gained greater international visibility in recent years through strong performances at world championships, Asian competitions and the Paralympic Games.

The Changwon results also show the importance of team events, where the combined performance of three athletes determines the final result. Millie Shah’s gold and Nidagundi’s silver demonstrate that Indian para-shooters are competing strongly across different rifle categories.

As international para-sport continues to grow, competitions such as the WSPS World Championships provide athletes with opportunities to gain experience and test their skills against some of the world’s leading competitors.