Sanjeev Rajput surprised Gagan Narang to win the second trials in air rifle by a 0.8 points on Tuesday.
Rajput had given a hint about his superb form in the 10-metre event when he finished second in the first trial behind Narang.
Though it was Narang who topped the qualifiers with a total of 625, Rajput, who was 1.2 points behind, got off to a strong start in the final taking a one-point lead after six shots. However, Narang caught up and gained the lead after 12 shots in the 20-shot final.
But, with the last six shots, Rajput gathered 63.1 to 61.4 by Narang. Interestingly, both wound up with shots of 10.
Narang uncharacteristically slipped towards the finish, while Rajput came up with shots of 10.7, 10.8, 10.6, 10.7 that clinched the issue in his favour before the last shot.
Ravi Kumar was a surprise third ahead of World and Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra, who had to bow out despite a 10.8 last shot, 0.2 points behind Kumar. National champion Chain Singh was fifth, ahead of Mahesh Kumar, Akhil Sheoran and Sachin Chavan.
In women’s 50-metre rifle 3-position event, national champion Tejaswini Sawant shot a total of 452.3 in the 45-shot final, as she outclassed the field and beat the winner of the first trial Meena Kumari, by 8.7 points.
Meena had topped the qualifiers with a total of 582 as against 575 by Tejaswini. World champion in prone, Tejaswini shot ahead during the 15 shots in prone in the final, and continued to sail with the momentum in the standing position.
Utkarsha Sharotiya finished third ahead of K.C. Hema, Shika Dhal and Lajja Gauswami.
In men’s 25-metre standard pistol, Mahendar Singh and Amanpreet Singh topped with 567.
They were followed by Harpreet Singh (566), Gurpreet Singh (563), Samaresh Jung (563), Rajesh Kumar (562), Pemba Tamang (560) and Vijay Kumar (560).
