New Delhi: Unfazed by a field comprising seasoned campaigners, teenager Saurabh Chaudhary smashed the world record to win gold in the ISSF World Cup here Sunday, securing India’s third Olympic quota.
Appearing in his maiden senior World Cup, the 16-year-old claimed the top honours without much fuss in the men’s 10m air pistol event at the season-opening International Shooting Sport Federation event.
The Asian Games and Youth Olympics gold medallist ended the event with a total score of 245.
Dami Mikec of Serbia was second in the podium with a score of 239.3, while the bronze medal was bagged by 2008 Olympic champion Wei Pang of China, who managed 215.2.
Such was Chaudhary’s dominance in the eight-men final that he finished the event 5.7 points ahead of the silver medallist, the gold assured even before his final shot.
Chaudhary, who started strongly finished tied on top with Serbian Mikec at the end of the first series.
In the second series, the champion shooter continued his good form and finished at the top.
Other Indians competing in the event, Abhishek Verma and Ravinder Singh, failed to qualify for the final.
Both Abhishek are Ravinder finished with a total score of 576 in the qualification round.
In the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event, Indian shooters failed to qualify for the final as Hungary’s Istvan Peni claimed the gold medal.
Parul Kumar was ranked 22nd in the qualification with a total score of 1170, while Sanjeev Rajput finished 25th with 1169.
This was India’s second medal in the tournament, with Apurvi Chandela winning a gold in the women’s 10m air rifle category Saturday.
PTI