India, May 26 -- At only 17, Kanak Budhwar has already achieved what many dream of - standing atop the podium with a gold medal, the Indian flag raised high in celebration.

On Wednesday, the young shooter from Rohtak, Haryana, clinched India's first top finish at the ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhl, Germany, winning the women's 10m air pistol event. In a high-pressure final, she kept her nerves steady and delivered a stellar score of 239, edging out two-time Olympian and reigning European champion Anna Dulce of Moldova by 1.7 points. But for Kanak, it wasn't about her competitors.

"My target wasn't on who I was competing against, but on believing fully in myself. I had the confidence that if I stayed focused, I would win a medal for my co...