India’s Pooja Ghatkar won her first medal at a shooting World Cup after she finished third in the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup in New Delhi on Friday. Ghatkar scored a total of 228.8 to win the bronze medal. China’s Mengyao Shi finished first, with a total score of 252.1 and also setting a new world record in the event. Mengyao’s compatriot Dong Lijie bagged silver with a score 248.9.
Ghatkar had narrowly missed out on winning a quota place for the 2016 Rio Olympics but will now hope that she can keep this momentum going all the way to Tokyo 2020. It won’t be easy but this is clearly a step in the right direction.
The 28-year-old has been around for a while and even won the gold medal at the Asian Air Gun Championship in 2014. Her main competition has always been Ayonika Paul, who made it to the Rio Olympics, just ahead of her. This time, though, she will hope to turn the tables on her rival.
India's Pooja Ghatkar on the podium!
— TheField (@thefield_in) February 24, 2017
Finishes 3rd with a total of 228.8 in the 10m Air Rifle final at the Shooting World Cup #ISSFWC pic.twitter.com/YXyeLQNUG8
Fantastic performance from Pooja Ghatkar to win Bronze in the Women's Air Rifle at @ISSF_Shooting World Cup.
— Digvijay Singh Deo (@DiggySinghDeo) February 24, 2017