Apurvi Chandela and Chain Singh Strike Gold on Concluding Day of 59th National Shooting Championship (Rifle/Pistol)

Apurvi Chandela has had a good 2015

Apurvi Chandela gave a firm indication that her Rio preparations were on the right track when she won the Women’s 10M Air Rifle event on the last day of the 59th National Shooting Championship (Rifle/Pistol) here at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range. Chain Singh, also a Rio Olympic Qualifier like Apurvi, claimed the Men’s 50M Rifle 3 Positions Gold. While Apurvi was clearly the woman to beat in her final, Chain had to fend off the challenge from Olympic medalist Gagan Narang who finished second.

It was a 1-2 for Rajasthan in the Women’s 10M Air Rifle as unheralded junior Geetakshi Dixit came second to go along with her three more Gold and another Silver medal in the day. India international Anjum Moudgil of Haryana won the Bronze. Apurvi shot 207.8 in the finals, Geetakshi a point-less while Anjum ended with 185.7

In the Men’s 50M Rifle 3 Positions, largely considered one of the toughest Olympic events, army man Chain shot 452.8 in the final round, comfortably ahead of Air India’s Gagan Narang who closed with 451.1. Swapnil Kusale of the Railways, a talented youngster who has had a great year and great Nationals to boot, won a creditable Bronze with a final tally of 441.7 points. Gagan had topped the qualifying with a score of 1170 while both Swapnil and Chain had registered scores of 1166.

At the JDA Shooting Range in Jaipur, where the Shotgun events are ongoing, veteran Skeet shooter and Rio Olympic qualifier Mairaj Ahmad Khan led a bunch of talented youngster including Man Singh, Angad Veer Singh Bajwa and Anantjeet Singh Naruka into the Men’s Skeet finals.