ISSF World Cup: Rifle teams fire India atop podium with 3 gold

Changwon, July 14

India topped the medals tally at the ongoing ISSF Shooting World Cup here today after a string of

fantastic performances by its shooters.

India finished the tournament with eight medals, three gold, four silver and a bronze, were way ahead of hosts South Korea and Serbia on the medals table.

The Indians were off to a bright start when the troika of Arjun Babuta, Shahu Tushar Mane and Paarth Makhija bagged the country’s third gold medal, beating South Korea 17-15 in the men’s 10m air rifle team event. The three staged a brilliant comeback in the final to claim the top prize ahead of south Korean’s Seungho Bang, Sangdo Kim and Hajun Park.

It was Babuta’s and Mane’s second gold of the World Cup.

The trio of Elavenil Valarivan, Mehuli Ghosh, and Ramita settled for silver after going down 10-16 to the home team of Jihyeon Keum, Eunseo Lee and Dayeong Gwon in the women’s 10m air rifle team final.

In the men’s 10m air pistol team final, the Indian team won silver after going down 15-17 to the experienced Italian trio of Paolo Monna, Alessio Torracchi and Luca Tesconi.

India’s third silver of the day came in the women’s 10m air pistol team event when the new-look team, comprising Rhythm Sangwan, Yuvika Tomar and Palak, was handed a 10-2 drubbing by a quality South Korean side led by the Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Kim Minjung.