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Sport - Olympic Games

Narang and Rajput exit

Kamesh Srinivasan

Artur Ayvazian of Ukraine clinches gold

Emmons collected the third medal for the family
Forty-six-year-old Warren Potent won the bronze

BEIJING: Gagan Narang and Sanjeev Rajput were not expected to set the shooting range on fire. Not in the free rifle prone event, at least.

The two Indian shooters, tuning themselves up for the 3-position event, were unable to handle the swirling winds in the qualification range, and struggled to put up a good score after a discouraging start.

The 25-year-old Narang, quite keen to brush away the memories of missing the air rifle final on the countback after a 595, dropped five points at the half-way stage, and could not come up with a strong finish for a place in the final.

The Hyderabad man had a series of 98, 98, 99, 96, 99 and 99 for a 589 that placed him 35th in a field of 56.

Disastrous start

In comparison, Rajput fought a lot better, as he overcame a disastrous start of 97, to put scores of 100, 99, 98, 99 and 98 for a 591 that put him in 26th place.

With those who aggregated 595 making it to the final, it was not beyond the Indian shooters, but they could not rise to the challenge this day.

In fact, Narang had won the silver in the Asian Championship in Kuwait last year in the event with a 595 in qualification.

The gold went to Artur Ayvazian of Ukraine who shot a 702.7, after topping the preliminary phase with a 599, two points ahead of the defending champion Matthew Emmons of the U.S., who eventually settled for the silver.

Greatest success

“It is the greatest success I have ever had. It is harder to maintain the first place in the final, but I made it”, said Ayvazian, who had finished ninth in Athens in 2004.

Emmons fought brilliantly to bridge the gap, and collected the third medal from the Games for the family. His wife, Katerina had won the first gold medal in air rifle and the silver in the 3-position event.

“It is the best match of my life. It is the best I can shoot. Three medals for the family at the Olympics is phenomenal.

Her success gives me good energy and great motivation,” said Emmons.

“The wind on the qualification range was extremely tough,” observed the 27-year-old Emmons, the youngest in the field.

Triumph of will

The bronze medallist was more thrilled than the other two.

It was a triumph of will for the 46-year-old Warren Potent, as he shot the best in the final with a 105.5.

“I am still getting to my prime. I am just maturing with age,” said the Australian, who had changed equipment, attitude and by his own admission, had learnt to stay calm.

“Try to stay still and fire a good shot. That is about it. It is pretty simple,” said Potent, the first Australian to win a medal in the event.

“It is good for the sport back home. Good to get a medal. Hope to get a few more,” said Potent.

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