State shooter wins double gold at international meet

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 25

Uttarakhand’s 14-year-old double trap shooter Shapath Bhardwaj won twin gold medals in the team and individual events in the 13th International Grand Prix held at Porpetto in Italy on July 24. Shapath, who plays for Uttarakhand, is a student of class IX at St Mary’s Academy, Meerut Cantt.

He scored 139/150 (27,29,27,29,27) in qualifying rounds and remained the top scorer of the event. He shot a perfect 30 in the semifinals to qualify for the final in which he scored 27 points and won a gold medal (individual). He was the youngest participant in the championship in the age group 12 to 21 years. He also won the team gold with a combined score of 403/450.

Shapath was selected in the National team squad at the age of 12 years in 2014 and thereafter in 2015. He was also the youngest player to participate in the Junior World Cup held in Suhl, Germany, from April 28 to May 6, 2016.

He is coached by Yoginder Pal Singh, popularly known as Yogi, himself a double trap shooter of International repute and currently a member of the National (senior) team squad.

Shapath started training under Yogi from October 2014.