Paris Olympics quota winners Akhil Sheoran, and Anish Bhanwala bag gold medals each as the Indian rifle and pistol shooters ended their Polish Grand Prix campaign with six medals,-two gold , a silver and three -bronze.
Akhil Sheoran, in the 50m rifle 3 positions (3P) match two struck gold as he shot a scorching 468.4 to leave Patrik Jany of the Czech Republic a distant 2.2 behind in second at the Grand Prix Wroclawia & Dolnego Slaska. Both those scores were however higher than the existing world record of 466.1, held by Jany’s countryman Jiri Privratsky. Navy shooter Niraj Kumar was also highly impressive finishing with two bronze medals in both the men’s 3P matches, thereby becoming the only Indian to finish with two medals. Niraj also shot impressive scores of 595 and 594 in the two qualification matches. Swapnil Kusale also shot a solid 595 in match two to top the qualification standings, being more accurate than Niraj, but finished fourth overall.
The two Grand Prixes also saw another Paris quota winner Shriyanka Sadangi win bronze in the women’s 3P and Ashi Chouksey pick up a silver in the second women’s 3P.
The Sportz Planet Desk,
Atharva Shetye.
