Indian shooters Pooja Ghatkar and Meghana Sajjanar progressed to the final of the 10m air rifle event of the shooting World Cup at Gabala on Thursday through an inspired showing.
Sajjanar was in stupendous form and topped the table with an inspired showing of 419.6, narrowly pipping China’s Shi Mengyao, who also matched the Indian’s score. Ghatkar, a former Asian champion, scored 416.8 to finish fourth in qualification from relay 1, and narrowly made the cut to the final, finishing eight overall.
After missing out narrowly on a spot in the Rio Olympics, Ghatkar has had a solid showing in 2017 by by clinching the women’s 10m air rifle bronze at in New Delhi. It was her maiden World Cup medal.
Luck ran out for the third Indian in the event, Apurvi Chandela, who fell agonisingly short of a place in the final event, despite an impressive showing. The Olympian picked up a score of 416.6 to finish 10th in the table. Only the top eight shooters from the qualification stage advance to the final.