Sheeraz justifies coach’s faith by finishing sixth
NEW DELHI: The National Rifle Association of India allowed skeet coach Ennio Falco to have a say in the selection of the team for the ISSF World Cup being held at the Karni Singh Ranges.
The Italian coach recommended the name of Sheeraz Sheikh. Though Sheikh wasn’t in the merit list, he was given a chance.
An experiment, according to Falco, paid dividends as Sheikh, 26, not only scored 121 in qualification but also edge past a more seasoned shooter, Jesper Hansen of Denmark, in the shootout to enter the final.
It’s another matter that he finished sixth and last in the finals. He was the first to be eliminated after 20 shots scoring 16 Ricardo Filippelli won gold with a score of 57, a world record.
Falco, however, expressed satisfaction with Sheikh’s, saying the fact that the shooter reached the final was a big achievement. “It’s the season’s first competi improving basic. His performance augurs well for skeet.”
This was Sheikh’s first World Cup final at the senior level and the new rules, which were just implemented by the ISSF, perhaps made things a bit difficult
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