Prithviraj, Kynan on course for final

New Delhi, March 19 

Prithviraj Tondaiman shot two perfect rounds of 25, while teammate Kynan Chenai missed just one bird to stay on course for the men's trap final at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Shotgun World Cup at Acapulco, Mexico. 

The qualifying in the men's trap event began on Monday. Prithviraj was in a group of seven shooters, in a field of 107, who shot a perfect 50 after the first two rounds.

Chenai shot 49, while the seasoned Manavjit Sandhu secured a score of 46. Three more rounds of qualifying will take place before the top-6 make it to the final. There are two quota places for the 2020 Olympics in this event. 

However, the women's trap team bowed out of the ISSF event. Former Olympics and world champion Jessica Rossi picked up the first gold of the competition, also claiming a quota place for her country, as she won the women's trap with a final round score of 45. She finished ahead of Australian Laetisha Scanlan (43).

China's Deng Weiyun won the other quota place on offer for the Tokyo Olympics with the bronze after shooting a score of 32 in the final. Laetisha had secured her quota earlier and was not eligible here. Shagun Chowdhary was the best Indian finisher in the women's trap event, securing the 19th spot with a score of 116 out of 125. Rajeshwari Kumari came in 36th with 112 while Varsha Varman shot 105 to end in the 52nd place. — PTI