The young Indian shooters, making their debut in a World Cup, continued to shock the world, as the 16-year-old Manu Bhaker fired a 10.6 last shot to clinch the gold in women’s air pistol in Guadalajara, Mexico.
It was a dramatic twist to the tale, as Manu trailing by 1.7 point before the last two shots in the 24-shot final against localite Alejandra Zavala Vazquez, kept her cool after 8.5 on the penultimate shot, to deliver the gold with a 0.4 point margin.
After qualifying with 572, a junior world record, owing to the new format of 60 shots for women as compared to 40 earlier, Manu asserted the strength of her steely nerves in a gripping climax.
It was the second air pistol gold for India, following the men’s title by another debutant Shahzar Rizvi.
Yashaswini Singh Deswal placed fourth, while Mahima Turhi Agrawal shot 568 and missed the final by two points.
In men’s air rifle, Ravi Kumar, who had qualified in the second place with a score of 626.9, clinched the bronze, after beating compatriot Deepak Kumar in the shoot-off.
It was a relief for Ravi who had made the final thrice last year in the World Cups, including the World Cup Final, but had found a medal eluding his grasp.
With a total of two gold and three bronze medals in the first two days, out of 12 on offer, India firmly stayed on top of the medals table, ahead of Romania, Hungary, Austria, China, Germany, Mexico and France.
The results :
Men :
10m air rifle : 1. Istvan Peni (Hun) 249.5 (625.5); 2. Alexander Schmirl (Aut) 248.7 (627.1); 3. Ravi Kumar 226.4 (626.9); 4. Deepak Kumar 205.8 (625.2); 20. Arjun Babuta 619.6.
Women :
10m air pistol : 1. Manu Bhaker 237.5 (572); 2. Alejandra Zavala Vazquez (Mes) 237.1 (579); 3. Celine Goberville (Fra) 217.0 (575); 4. Yashaswini Singh Deswal 196.1 (571); 13. Mahima Tuhi Agrawal 568.
