Jitu Rai rallies to win bronze in ISSF World Cup
NEW DELHI: Ace pistol shooter Jitu Rai on Tuesday staged a remarkable comeback to clinch the bronze medal in the 10m air pistol event for India's third podium finish in the ongoing ISSF World Cup here.
The 29-year-old Rai shot at total of 216.7 in the eightmen final to finish third on the podium. However, Chain Singh could not swell the host country's tally after finishing seventh in the final of men's 50 rifle prone. Singh shot 141.9.
The Asian Games and World Championship silver medallist was languishing at seventh position after the end of the first competition series that included an 8.8, but clawed his way back with two 10.6 and a 10 in the second competition series. At the end of that series, Rai was placed sixth with a total of 98.7 at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range.
He managed to maintain the status quo even as the final entered the elimination stage. He shot two 10s in the following shots to continue his gradual ascent. The army man roared back into contention with a couple of 10.6 and ensured a bronze with a 9.9, finishing ahead of China's Zhanyi Xu (197.9). With a lead of 0.1 point over Vietnam's Xuang Vinh Hoang, Rai was in the hunt for a silver but an 8.6 meant he had to be contend with the bronze.
"This is my third international medal after the Olympics. Won a silver medal in the World Cup final and was crowned the champion of champions. Had a gold in another World Cup prior to that."
Having shot his way back into contention on Tuesday after a poor start, Rai said he had a similar experience in a World Cup in Changwon, Korea.
"I had a similar experience in Korea. I played very well and hit 10 shots continuously to rise from last position. I am not scared of last position but I don't give up till the end."
The other Indian shooters in the fray in the air pistol event – Omkar Singh and Amanpret Singh – failed to cross the qualification stage finishing 14th and 19th, respectively.
In the day's other medal event, Olympic bronze medallist Gagan Narang could not clear the qualification hurdle, finishing 15th. Rai was sixth in the pistol qualification stage with 577.
In 50m rifle prone, Japan's Toshikazu Yamashita won gold with a world record 249.8, China's Yukun Liu bagged silver with 249.3, a junior world record, while the bronze went to Daniel Romanczyk of Poland with 226.6.