Shooter Aishwary Tomar wins men’s 3P gold in ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol

NEW DELHI: India won their fourth gold medal of the ongoing ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol in Cairo, Egypt, when young Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, outplayed Austria's Alexander Schmirl 16-6 in the men's 50m rifle 3 positions (3P) gold medal match, at the Egypt International Olympic City Shooting range.

It was the Indian's third individual world cup gold and consolidated his country's position at the top of the medal tally. India now has four golds and two bronze medals, with Hungary in second with two golds and a silver.

Aishwary first topped the qualification round with a score of 588 after 20-shots each in the Kneeling, Prone and Standing positions. He had teammate Akhil Sheoran for company in the ranking round, who was second in qualification with 587.

The Indian duo began slow in the ranking round with Aishwary sixth and Akhil eighth after the first five Kneeling position shots. After the end of the allocated 10-shots in the second Prone position however, both had made a move up with Akhil in second and Aishwary up to fifth. All the while the Austrian Schmirl was leading the match and did so till the end of the ranking round.

It changed dramatically after the first five Standing position shots, as now India number one Aishwary got up to second, just 0.5 behind Schmirl who was still leading. Akhil was down to fifth and eventually bowed out in seventh place after 30-shots. Eventually after 40-shots both the Austrian and the Indian held on to the top-two positions to setup a gold medal clash.

In the gold medal match Aishwary took the first series. However as is mostly the case with big finals, it remained tight with match scores reading 4-4 and then 6-6 before the Indian broke away with some sensational shooting to close out the match without giving the Austrian another chance. (IANS)