Indian and Chinese juniors proved they are not too far behind their seniors by winning most of the accolades on the third day of the Asian Shooting Championships at the Lusail Shooting Complex yesterday.
Both countries claimed five gold medals each yesterday. Such was their domination that no other country managed to win a single gold on the day.
The stars for India were 14-year-old prodigy Esha Singh and 17-year-old Vivaan Kapoor who won one individual and team gold each. This was Kapoor’s third gold of the championships, having won the mixed trap title earlier.
Singh clinched the gold in the 10m Air Pistol event for junior women by shooting 242.2, with South Korea’s Jeong Hyo bagging the silver with a score of 237.3. India’s Priya Raghav took the bronze with a total of 217.6. Singh also led throughout the qualification, scoring 579.
The Indian trio of Singh, Raghav and Yuvika Tomar also claimed the team gold with a cumulative score of 1721, with China claiming silver with 1702 and Chinese Taipei the bronze with 1687.
Meanwhile, Kapoor, a fast-rising youngster of whom there are great expectations, shot his way to gold in the Trap competition for junior men.
He led throughout the qualifications, staving off stiff competition from compatriot Bhowneesh Mendiratta. In the final, Kapoor shot 45, while Mendiratta had 42. China’s Li Swei claimed the bronze.
Kapoor, Mendritta and Manavaditya Singh Rathore also clinched the team gold with a total of 347.2, while China and Kuwait finished second and third respectively.
Bhakti Bhaskar Khamkar won India’s fifth gold of the day, besting the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Women Junior event with a dominating 453.1 in the final. China’s Yu Jianuan who won silver finished with 448.7, more than four behind Bhakti. Bhakti, Ayushi Podder and Nishchal also won the team silver in the event. So did the trio of Niraj Kumar, Harshrajsinhji Gohil and Nitish Kumar in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men Junior event. Niraj also picked up the individual silver.
Meanwhile, Chinki Yadav stayed in the hunt for a quota spot for India in the women’s 25m Pistol competition.
Chinki shot an exceptional 292 and will be looking to make the final on Friday and take a shot at clinching one of the four available Tokyo berths. Rahi Sarnobat has already secured the other quota place for India in the event in earlier competitions.
Indian shooters celebrate with their medals yesterday.
