Sanjeev Rajput produced a high-quality performance in the final to pip a resurgent Sushil Ghaley in the free rifle prone event of the 12th all-India Kumar Surendra Singh shooting championship at the Karni Singh Range, Tughlakabad, on Thursday.
On a day when Vijay Kumar added the centre fire pistol gold to his rapid fire crown, it was left to another Olympic quota holder, Rajput, to showcase his skill.
Though the Navy marksman enjoyed a two-point lead over the Army marksman, Rajput needed to be at his best in the climactic stages.
He rose to the occasion with a score of 104.5 in the final when all but one of his 10 shots hit 10. In fact, Rajput, who won his Olympic quota place with a gold in the 3-posiiton event in a World Cup last year, finished strongly with two 10.7s.
Consistent Sushil
Sushil, who has a good chance of taking the Olympic quota place in the prone event from Hariom Singh, shot 105.0 in the final, and had all his shots ranging from 10.1 to 10.8.
Hariom Singh had a 598 in the World championship while winning the quota in 2010, but has slipped since then.
He shot a 589 in qualification and a 100.3 in the final to be placed fifth.
Surendra Singh Rathod bagged the bronze despite managing only a 588 in qualification. He had the third best score in the final — 101.9.
Rajput will attempt to prove his prowess in the rifle 3-position event on Friday.
Vijay wins gold
Vijay shot a 287 in the precision series and 293 in the rapid fire section to walk away with the gold with a 580 in centre fire pistol.
There was a four-way tie for the silver with 578, but Samaresh Jung shot a 50 in the shoot-off to take the second spot.
Choudhary gets bronze
C.K. Choudhary, who missed a medal after topping the qualification round in rapid fire pistol, ended up with the bronze. He pipped Harpreet Singh and Mahaveer Singh in the extended shoot-off.
The results:
Men: 50m free rifle prone: 1. Sanjeev Rajput 697.5 (593); 2. Sushil Ghaley 696.0 (591); 3. Surendra Singh Rathod 689.9 (588).
Juniors: 1. Swapnil Suresh Kusale 576; 2. Mukesh Kumar 576; 3. Ishan Goel 575.
25m centre fire pistol: 1. Vijay Kumar 580; 2. Samaresh Jung 578 (50); 3. C.K. Choudhary 578 (49).
Juniors: 1. Naveen Kumar 543; 2. Abhishek Rana 538.
