Suruchi asserts her class yet again

Sainyam, topper Suruchi, and Manu, the top three in women’s air pistol at the National shooting trials in Delhi on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: Kamesh Srinivasan

Suruchi Phogat was in irrepressible form as she outclassed a strong field with an authoritative fare, beating the former World junior champion Sainyam by a 4.9 point margin for the top spot in women’s air pistol in the National shooting trials at the Dr. Karni Singh Range, Tughlakabad, on Thursday.

The 18-year-old Suruchi who had swept the women’s junior and youth gold medals in the last national championship at the same venue, and had added the National Games gold recently in Dehradun, topped qualification with 586, two points better than the Asian Games champion Palak Gulia.

Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker was not at her best form in the final, as she consistently hit the 9s, an unusual experience for her, but won the shoot-off 10.5 to 9.5 in placing ahead of Palak.

Anjali Shekhawat, Sakshi Suryavanshi, Rhythm Sangwan and Pranjali Dhumal were the others to make the final. Esha Singh shot 573 and missed the final by three points.

In men’s air pistol, national champion Varun Tomar beat Ajendra Chauhan by 0.4 point for the top spot. Qualification topper Nishant Rawat (589) placed seventh.

Kiran Jadhav topped men’s 50-metre rifle 3-position event, 0.2 point ahead of World Cup gold medallist Akhil Sheoran. Qualification topper, Olympian Chain Singh (596) placed third ahead of multiple World Cup gold medallist Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar.

Olympic bronze medallist, Swapnil Kusale, who had done well in the earlier trial, shot 583 and placed 19th.

The results: 10m air pistol: Men: 1. Varun Tomar 243.2 (584); 2. Ajendra Chauhan 242.8 (582); 3. Amit Sharma 221.7 (586).

Women: 1. Suruchi Phogat 246.4 (586); 2. Sainyam 241.5 (576); 3. Manu Bhaker 218.9 (581).

50m rifle 3-position: Men: 1. Kiran Jadhav 460.0 (589); 2. Akhil Sheoran 459.8 (591); 3. Chain Singh 447.2 (596).