The Indian shooting team finished runners-up bowing out to ‘’Independent Shooting Participants” by a narrow margin of just four points to bag the silver medal at the 6th Asian Shotgun Championship held in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. The trio of Zoravar Singh Sadhu, Kynan Chenai and Prithviraj confirmed the silver for the team with their brilliant rounds.
Meanwhile, in the individual trap event Ankur Mittal, who has made his mark on the international circuit at the Men's Double trap competition at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow topped the qualification phase scoring a brilliant 143 by compiling four perfect rounds of 30. However, an unfortunate 27 in the semi-finals reduced his quest to a bronze.
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Ankur’s road to bronze was, however, not an easy ride as he had to face a shootout against Hamad Alafasi of Kuwait who was competing as an ‘Independent Shooting Participant (ISP).’ Winning 2-1 after being tied on 27, he next took on Saad Al Mutairi and defeated him 30-27 to clinch the bronze medal.
Shooter Zoravar Singh Sandhu also had a good run till he tumbled in the fourth round with a score of 22, and eventually finished seventh with a total of 119, missing out on the final by just one point. Indian olympian Kynan Chenai also showed his competence as he outdid himself in every round scoring 21, 23, 24 and 25, but however slipped to a 22 in the final round.
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The gold and the silver were won by Ahmad Alafasi and Saif Alshamsy of the UAE respectively. It was, however, not the best of days for Indian shooters Yoginderpal Singh (131) and Sangram Dahiya (129) and it was Ankur’s clinical performance that helped the Indian team to their victory.
On the other hand, Seema Tomar won the silver in the individual trap and the Indian Women’s shooting team clinched the gold medal as they give the Indian endeavour a vibrant start.
