Shagun traps gold, shoots into limelight

Vinayak Padmadeo

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 16

A new coach, a few changes in technique... That’s what it took Shagun Chowdhury to turn things around and win a trap gold at the Karni Singh Shooting Range here today. She shot down 41 targets to pip Rajeshwari Kumari (39) to the second spot. Shreyasi Singh clinched the bronze medal, shooting 29 targets.  Shreyasi Singh clinched the bronze medal, shooting 29 targets.

Out of the Indian squad for a year now and the crucial Olympic qualifiers for the 2020 Tokyo Games starting next year, it was important for Shagun, the London Games Olympian, to make an impact at the Nationals to mount a comeback.

And impact she did make! After qualifying third with a total of 67 hits, Shagun kept up with the early leader, Shreyasi, and then Rajeshwari to stay in the hunt. After the first elimination, it became clear the 34-year-old was the only one in the reckoning for the gold medal.

“I am quite happy, I started (final) on a strong note, and ended on a strong note. There is a lot to work on but, yes, I have started the year on a positive note. That’s what I am happy about,” said Shagun.

“I’ve been training hard as next year we’ve the Commonwealth and the Asian Games, besides the Olympic qualifiers. I’ve been training at the Manav Rachna Sports Academy with Daniele di Spigno. We’ve been working together for some time now, it’s working out well, we will need to build on this.”

Di Spigno is a multiple World Cup as well as the World Championship winner for Italy. His latest medal was a double trap gold, with a world record score of 78, at the ISSF World Cup in Larnaka, Cyprus, earlier this year.

His association with Shagun has already started bearing fruits. “My stance has changed completely, the way I am looking for the target has changed completely, the way I am calling for the target has changed completely,” said Shagun. “He has also made a difference to the psychological aspect. I’m definitely much calmer and more assured now. I am very happy with the way it is going.”

Apart from winning the gold, Shagun ticked another box during the qualifications on Thursday. She achieved the Minimum Target Score (MTS), set by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) as per their selection policy. All the shooters are required to achieve MTS to travel for competitions.

“See I’ve been out of the team last year. I have changed my technique to a large extent. This is my first competition with the new technique. Keeping that in mind, I am satisfied. I needed to score 67, which is the MTS. I can now build up from here.”

Manavjit continues to lead

Manavjit Sandhu stayed atop the qualification charts in the men’s trap event after ending three rounds with a score of 73. Fahd Sultan, Zoravar Singh Sandhu and Kynan Chenai are tied second after scoring identical scores of 71. Vishwa Kundu and veteran trap shooter Mansher Singh are joint third with a total of 70 each.