Harveen Srao announced her return to the national reckoning in a strong fashion as she won the women's air pistol gold in a highly competitive field in the 54th National shooting championship at the Dr. Karni Singh Range, Tughlakabad, here on Monday.
On a day when Mairaj Ahmad Khan won the skeet gold for the third time in a spectacular climax when he beat Man Singh 8-7 in the tie-shoot after the two had tallied 142, the focus stayed strongly on Harveen, even though everyone had to endure a three-hour delay for the air pistol final.
Enjoying a three-point lead over Pushpanjali Rana, with a total of 382, which was far below her career-best 389, Harveen shot steady, to beat Commonwealth Games silver medallist Heena Sidhu by 3.6 points. “I had worked hard for this,” said the 24-year-old Harveen, pleased to have accomplished her goal.
Nausheen Fatima got the bronze 0.3 point ahead of Pushpanjali Rana, as she scored 98.0 in the final as compared to 96.7 by the latter.
Good effort from Mairaj
It was a creditable effort from the determined Mairaj at the skeet range, as he not only overcame a point lead in the final, but also a ‘warning' that forced him repeat a double on at the fourth station and miss the only bird.
Smit Singh won the bronze, one point ahead of former national champion ADS Peoples, and had the satisfaction of taking the junior gold.
The results:
Men: Skeet: 1. Mairaj Ahmad Khan 142 (8) 118; 2. Man Singh 142 (7) 119; 3. Smit Singh 139 (116).
Team: 1. Chhattisgarh 346; 2. Uttar Pradesh 329; 3. Army 324.
Juniors: 1. Smit Singh 116; 2. Shreyan Kapoor 105; 3. Mohammed Hamza Sheikh 102.
Women: Air pistol: 1. Harveen Srao 481.3 (382); 2. Heena Sidhu 477.7 (378); 3. Nausheen Fatima 476.0 (378).
Team: 1. Punjab 1129; 2. CRPF 1124; 3. ONGC 1121.
Juniors: 1. Diksha Rajput 374; 2. Juhi Talwar 372; 3. Surabhi Pathak 370.
Youth: 1. Manika Tomar 374; 2. Prerna Gupta 371; 3. Neha Tokas 369.
