PUNE: After a disappointing show at the Tokyo Games, there was some solace for Manu Bhaker as she clinched 10m air pistol gold at the ISSF Junior World Championships in Lima, Peru, on Thursday.
It was 1-2 for India on the podium, as Esha Singh clinched silver. Manu, 19, scored 241.3 for gold, while Esha, 16, shot 240. The bronze went to Turkey’s Yasemin Yilmaz with 217.9.
India’s Rhythm Sangwan, 17, missed out on a medal after getting eliminated at fourth position with 198.7.
In the men’s 10m air rifle event, Rudrankksh Patil, 17, lost gold to Tokyo Olympics champion William Shaner of the USA.
Thane’s Rudrankksh, who trains at Gagan Narang’s Gun For Glory academy, shot 250 in the 24-shot final and lost the gold by 0.7 point to the reigning Olympic champion, who scored 250.7.
Participating in his first international tournament, Rudrankksh took a lead by shooting 10.7 in the 20th shot, but slipped down when Shaner shot 10.7 and 10.9 in his 21st and 22nd shots. A 9.7 in his 23rd shot made the gold chase difficult for Rudrankksh. Bronze went to another American William Kissell with 228.2.
Three Indians had qualified for the final. Dhanush Srikanth finished 8th with a score of 121, while Paarth Makhija finished seventh with 141.4.
In the women’s 10m air rifle final, Kurukshetra girl Ramita settled for bronze after getting eliminated with 229.1. She lost to France’s Oceanne Muller (250.6, gold after shoot-off) and Mary Tucker (250.6, silver after shoot-off). While Muller had finished fifth at the Tokyo Olympics, medallist Mary Tucker had clinched silver.
Other Indians, Mehuli Ghosh (186.8) finished fifth, while Nisha Kanwar finished eighth after scoring 122.5.