NEW DELHI: Akhil Sheoran clinched a hard-fought bronze in men's 50m rifle 3Position event at the ISSF World Cup Finals at Dr Karni Singh ranges on Wednesday.
Akhil's medal was the only podium finish for the hosts on a day when four finals were contested.
Akhil, along with compatriot Chain Singh qualified for the final in a field dominated by European and Chinese shooters. However, Chain was eliminated in the 7th position in the 8-shooter final. Chain scored 590 in the qualification, while Akhil made the cut with 589.
In the marathon final of 45 shots, the Indians got off to poor starts lying low in the standing. Akhil shifted gears in the second series (prone) and climbed up from sixth to joint third position with Czech Republic's Jiri Privratsky, who went on to win silver.
In the standing position, Akhil consistently shot high 10s to maintain his position and clinched bronze after shooting 452.6. Privratsky scored 464.2, while Hungary's Olympian Istvan Peni won gold with 465.3.
Ganemat betters NR
Skeet shooter Ganemat Sekhon entered her second successive World Cup Final and bettered the national record with the score of 122 points. Her previous record was 120.
Vivaan Kapoor (120, third place) in the men's trap, Anantjeet Singh Naruka (121, 5th) and Mairaj Ahmad Khan (119, 6th) in the men's skeet managed to reach the finals.
