It has been a different challenge for the shooters as they have had to grapple with a distinctly different throw by the machines in the ongoing Shotgun World Cup here.
The coach of the Indian trap team, Mansher Singh, a very experienced shooter who has competed in four Olympics, 10 World Championships and six Asian Games, was able to pin the reason for the overall low scores, even by the best in the world.
In qualification, 117 out of 125 was the best score for men, and in women, the 114 by Rajeshwari Kumari in the MQS section was the best. The regular shooters in the women’s event could muster only a maximum of 112.
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“The target-throwing machines here are a little different in nature as they throw with less spin.
“Thus, the targets are being pushed out, causing a very fast presentation effect,” said Mansher when contacted in Lahti.
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“The weather and light conditions are varying throughout the day. The targets are also hard in nature and some do not break at impact with the pellets,” Mansher elaborated.
The Indian trap shooters have been left with only one final chance in the Asian Championship in Doha in November in their pursuit for Olympic berths. The skeet shooters are yet to compete in Lahti.
“It will be tough at the Asian Championship. The last time around, we won one quota at the Delhi event. It is well within our reach,” said Mansher.
Even though only one trap quota was won for Rio in 2016, the National federation exchanged a rifle quota place for a shotgun quota, helping Kynan Chenai and Manavjit Singh Sandhu to compete there.
Skeet shooter Mairaj Ahmad Khan, who had earned the quota in style, had fared remarkably well to shoot 121 out of 125 at Rio, but finished ninth after missing a berth in the final in a shoot-off.
“I think the conditions were very tough and the score could go up and down very easily. Kynan’s performance was also up and down but he had a bad start and a good finish.
“There was bad luck with Manav breaking his gun. Prithviraj also struggled to adjust to the throw of the targets and so did the women’s team,” pointed out Mansher.
Adapting well
He praised Rajeshwari, daughter of Randhir Singh, six-time Olympian and Asian Games gold medallist and the former secretary-general of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), for handling the situation well.
“Rajeshwari was able to adapt very well. This should help her in the coming months. We will be ready to win in Qatar,” said Mansher.