India win silver in Men’s Rapid Fire Pistol team event

(L-R)- Sameer, Mahesh Anandakumar & Rajkanwar Singh Sandhu show-off their Men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol team silver at the Junior World Championships in Changwon on July 21, 2023.

Khel Today Bureau

New Delhi: The trio of Sameer, Rajkanwar Singh Sandhu and Mahesh Anandakumar, claimed the Men’s 25m Rapid-Fire Pistol (RFP) team silver on day six of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Championship Juniors in Changwon, Korea. The Indian colts totalled 1730 points to finish behind China’s 1747, which equalled the existing junior world record in the event. Mahesh also reached the final of the individual event, to finish sixth overall.

Mahesh shot a solid 290 in the second rapid-fire round earlier in the day to log a total of 578 over two days of qualifying to claim the fifth qualifying spot in the individual Men’s RFP, but could not get going in the final. Sameer, who was in a good position at the end of day five, shot a round of 288 for a total of 576 to finish seventh, thereby missing out on a shot at a medal by a whisker. Rajkanwar also ended qualification with 576 to finish eighth overall among contenders. China won gold in the individual event as well.

Day seven Saturday, will see Indian participation, in the Women’s 25m Standard Pistol and the 50m Rifle Prone events as well as the Men’s and Women’s Trap competition which began on day six and where a couple of Indian shooters are favourably placed after the first two rounds of qualifying. The Trap finals are on Sunday.