Glorifying India, Manu Bhaker and Anmol grab gold in Air Pistol Mixed, ISSF Junior World Cup

Sydney, March 27: Climbing atop the podium and taking over India’s seventh gold medal in the ISSF Junior World Cup, 16 year old Manu Bhaker and 19 year old Anmol made India proud once again. The second-to-last competition day at the Sydney International Shooting Centre opened with the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team final giving a nail biting experience to the onlookers.

The two youngsters dominated the final match since its very first series, progressively building a relevant gap between them and their closest rivals and eventually finishing with 478.9 points, 1.8-point away from the current World Record.

 

Previously, Anmol and Bhaker also set a new Junior Qualification World Record with 770 points.

 

The silver and bronze medals were both awarded to the People’s Republic of China, as Liu Jinyao (20) and Li Xue (18) finished in 2nd position with 473.3 points, while Wang Zhehao (19) and Xiao Jiaruixuan (15) took 3rd place with 410.7.

A second Indian team, comprising 18-year-old Gaurav Rana and 19-year-old Mahima Turhi Agrawal, finished at the feet of the podium, leaving the final at the 38th-shot mark with 370.2 points and fourth position.

Finishing 11.2 points away from the fifth place because of a dry-fire shot -- and also suffering a 1.0-point reduction -- Australia's Hans Ben Hummer (18) and Sascha Kroopin (16) took the sixth place with a final score of 320.9.

Overall, India occupied the second placed with 17 medals, including seven gold. China lead the tally with 21 podium finishes, including eight gold medals.