BYDGOSZCS – There are days when you smile, the tenths of a point are in your favour and you do not know why. Day 3 was an Indian triumph in the 10m rifle compressed air competition, both in individual and team both for men and women. Four gold medals swelled the purse of the Indian delegation whose presence at the highest level continues over the years.
Celebrating the women’s competition with a victory, Vinita Bhardwaj was crying with joy after the last shot. “Even though I never won medals at the international level, I came to win, and in my heart I was convinced that I could do it. I study psychology at the University of Punjab Chandannagar and despite seven training sessions a week, I am a full-time student. This result will give me even more confidence”, Vinitra Bhardwaj added. Shet beat only by two tenths of a point Chinese Siing Yi, the world number one in this discipline, and Japan’s Chiba Sakumi. She was also part of the team that pocketed the team title ahead of the Czech Republic and Italy.
The leader of the Indian men’s team all covered with gold, Akhil Sheoran (21) and an MBA graduate of the Jamia Milla Islamia University in New Delhi, was especially delighted with his victory: “After my bronze medal at the Gwangju Universiade, I knew I was going to fight for the title here. That was my goal which largely mitigates the disappointment that followed my non-qualification for the Rio Games. I train five times a week in one of the four Regional Shooting Centres in India where the sport is very popular. Be aware that for national championships, there are nearly 3,500 participants! At the Olympic Games, India has already won in the men’s 10 m air rifle an individual gold medal in 2008 and a bronze in 2012.” And to top it all, Akhil Sheoran launched his team to success with three tiny tenths of a point ahead of Japan, with Thailand finishing third in the team event.
She’s really quite a markswoman, the French Mathilde Lamolle. During the opening day, we had already presented in detail the course in which she won the accuracy 25m competition. Friday 16 September, the student from the University of Aix-Marseille pocketed a double by winning the 25m that combines precision and rapid fire shooting: “And yet I had a very bad start”, explains Mathilde. “In qualifying, I experienced too much stress and after the precision test, I was only 12th or 13th. It was essential to strike a blow this morning in the rapid fire event to qualify for the final in the top eight, the counters are then reset. And this morning, with 295 out of 300, I landed on the first place! I have managed well in the final eight to qualify for the final joust that determines the gold. The beginning was not great because I was again too stressed. My runner-up, Poland’s Klaudia Bres began to take off but finally my will to win has overcome my stress and allowed me to come back and win. This double win is great and gives me even more confidence, which I have much need for with the final of World Cup coming up in October in Bologna which gathers the 12 best shooters in the world. I qualified narrowly in 12th place but this is yet another level”, concludes Lamolle who trains in Marseille with Jean Quiquampoix, silver medallist in Rio and also fresh WUC Champion here in Bydgoszcz. Thai Tanyaporn Prucksakorn completed the podium while in the team event Poland came ahead of Hungary and France after a Homeric battle (1716 pts for the winner, 1716 and 1715 for two pursuers).
Medal Podium 10m Air Rifle Men’s Team
The fans witnessed a top flight women’s skeet final: the six qualified ladies did indeed show an impressive resume with continental and world podiums, especially in the juniors’ category. Ultimately, Slovak Veronika Sykorova of the University of Nitra where she studies for agricultural engineer that beat Czech Barbora Sumova and Polish Alexsandra Jarmolinska. The 21 year-old Slovak shooter radiated happiness after her victory: “Even though I have been silver and bronze medallist at the Junior European Championships, it’s certainly my best international result. I must admit that it is a huge surprise for me because the year was rather difficult with a change of coach in the middle of the season. But the work has paid off: in addition to my full-time studies, I train three times a week in shooting, I develop my physical fitness as well and every weekend I try to do two days of competitions.” The team event was won by the Czech Republic.
Medal Podium 10m Air Rifle Women’s Team
RESULTS
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