Shymkent (Kazakhstan), Aug 26 (PTI): Olympian Sift Kaur Samra delivered a stunning performance, securing the individual women's 50m rifle 3 positions gold and spearheading India to a team victory at the Asian Shooting Championships in Shymkent. The 23-year-old world record holder recorded a brilliant 459.2 in the final, narrowly surpassing China's Yang Yujie, who scored 458.8, to clinch the gold medal. Alongside stalwarts Anjum Moudgil and Ashi Chouksey, Samra contributed to the team's top podium finish with a combined score of 1753 points.
India currently stands second in the medal tally with 20 medals, including nine gold, while China leads with 24 medals, comprising 13 gold. This triumph marked Samra's fourth Asian Championships gold. She showcased unparalleled prowess throughout the event, entering the eight-shooter final as the top qualifier with 589 points. Although Shriyanka Sadandi led the qualification round, she was ineligible for the final due to her participation being solely for Ranking Points Only (RPO), which precludes medal contention.
As the highest-ranked shooter at world number five among the finalists, Samra displayed unmatched skill, scoring 151.0 and 156.2 in kneeling and prone positions, respectively. Her excellence extended into the standing-elimination round, where she fended off a late challenge by Yang, eventually prevailing by 0.4 points. Japan's Nobata Misaki captured the bronze with a score of 448.2, while Chouksey finished seventh with 402.8 points.
In the team event, Samra led the charge with excellent support from Anjum and Ashi, contributing scores of 589, 586, and 578 respectively, which consolidated India’s top position. Japan followed in second place with a score of 1750, and South Korea took bronze with 1745 points.
Juniors Shine
In the junior category, Indian shooting prodigy Anushka Thokur secured her first international medal, a remarkable gold in the junior women's 50m rifle 3 positions. Joined by Prachi Gaikwad and Mahit Sandhu, they collectively achieved team gold. Anushka, an accomplished national championships and Khelo India Youth Games medallist, fired an impressive 460.7 in the final, winning by five points. South Korea’s Oh Sehee claimed silver with 455.7, while Sim Yeojin took bronze at 443.9.
Indian shooters Sandhu and Gaikwad earned fifth and sixth places, respectively. In the team event, Anushka (583), Gaikwad (588), and Sandhu (587) accumulated 1758 points to secure gold, outpacing South Korea (1740) and Kazakhstan (1706), amid the participation of four teams.
In the junior men’s category, Sameer collected a bronze in the 25m rapid-fire, scoring 21 in the final involving six shooters. Teammates Suraj Sharma and Abhinav Choudhary concluded in fifth and sixth places. As a team, Sameer (576), Suraj (577), and Abhinav (571) amassed 1724 points, achieving gold.
Additional triumphs included Haris Sabeera and Addya Katyal claiming junior women's trap gold and silver, scoring 39 and 38 in the final. The trio of Sabeera (105), Addya (110), and Bhavya Tripathi (109) earned team gold with a total of 324, narrowly defeating Kazakhstan’s 323.
India dominated the junior men’s trap team event, with Arya Vansh Tyagi (112), Arjun (110), and Udhav Rathore (106) compiling 328 points to grab gold. With these accolades, India sustains its formidable presence in the realm of international shooting sports.
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