Maheshwari Chauhan defended her crown against tough competition in women’s skeet in the 62nd National shotgun championship at the JDA Range on Monday.
After qualifying second with 115 out of 125, five points behind Simran Preet Kaur Johal, Maheshwari pipped Ganemat Sekhon 52-51 in the final. Simran Preet, however, went on to clinch the junior gold.
Interestingly, in the previous National championship in New Delhi, Maheshwari had won the tie-shoot 2-1 against Ganemat after the two were tied on 50 in the final.
“I had to stay strong and focused right till the last shot. Becoming a National champion is always a good feeling and retaining the title definitely feels very special. I am happy to bring the gold for Rajasthan year after year,” said Maheshwari, who had been training at her home range in Jalore, about 500 kilometres from Jaipur, for the last two months in preparation for the National championship.
After overtaking Simran, a second year Law student from Punjabi University (Patiala), who eventually bagged the bronze, Maheshwari said the final was a different ballgame.
“Honestly, after the shaky start, I wasn’t confident of winning the gold. But, in a sport like shooting, anyone who gets stronger towards the end takes it all,” said Maheshwari, who has been focusing on shooting, with sound guidance from Mansher Singh, after graduating from Lady Shri Ram College. “Mansher pushes his athletes in the best way. He doesn’t help me technically, but in shooting, the mental game is the most important,” said Maheshwari.
Brave show
It was a courageous performance by Simran, who was able to follow up on the senior bronze with the junior gold. She beat Parinaaz Dhaliwal 55-51. Simran also had the distinction of winning both the women’s and juniors team gold medals for Punjab. “I feel proud to have shot a National record and becoming a National junior champion. I made a few small mistakes and thus ended up with the women’s bronze,” said Simran, who credited her father Narinder Singh Johal for the success.
“The immense support of my parents made it possible to shoot such fabulous results. My father is not a shooter but he is the one who helped me make it happen.
“ I owe it coach Amardeep Singh Rai who gave me the foundation in the sport at the start,” said Simran.
The results: Skeet: Women: 1. Maheshwari Chauhan 52 (115); 2. Ganemat Sekhon 51 (111); 3. Simran Preet Kaur Johal 41 (120). Junior women: 1. Simran Preet Kaur Johal 55 (120), 2. Parinaaz Dhaliwal 51 (111); 3. Darshna Rathore 40 (108).
