Onus on young guns to win Tokyo Olympics berths
NEWDELHI: At the World Championships in Changwon, Korea, in September, Saurabh Chaudhary shot a junior world record score of 245.5 to clinch gold. In fact, Saurabh would have laughed his way to gold and a Tokyo Olympics quota with the score had he been participating in the senior event. Jin Jongoh of Korea, who won the senior gold and one of the four Olympics quotas from the event, shot only 241.5.
It can be always debated whether sending Saurabh in the senior meet would have fetched India a quota considering his sensational form last year. Whatever the case, the 16-yearold has given evidence of his class at the highest level and will be leading India’s hopes of winning an Olympic berth from the World Cup here starting Saturday.
The event will offer 16 quota places for the Tokyo Olympics. India will be eligible for 14 as Anjum Moudgil (silver) and Apurvi Chandela (4th place) have already won two quotas in 10m air rifle from the World Championships.
It will be Saurabh’s only second competition at the senior level after the Asian Games and a big test for the youngster, who has shown penchant for shooting down records. “I enjoy myself in the range. I don’t feel any pressure while shooting. I want to give my best and win a quota for the country,” said Saurabh.
HOME ADVANTAGE
Hopes will be also high from Abhishek Verma, who qualified for the final of 10m air pistol in Changown but finished eighth.
Competing at home has its advantages and disadvantages, but winning quotas would not be a cakewalk for Indian shooters considering the high quality field on display. Changwon World Championships offered a maximum of 60 quota places for Tokyo but India returned with just two. It was thanks to the exploits by the juniors and shooters in non-olympic category that India finished third (27 medals) in the overall medals tally.
Unlike Saurabh, Manu Bhaker competed in senior section in Changwon in the 10m air pistol and failed to make the final. She and Heena Sindhu will have another opportunity here. Manu has shown a fearless attitude and spark at senior meets. She picked two gold medals in World Cup last year in Guadalajara, Mexico, and topped it up with a gold at the Commonwealth Games. Her only blip was the Asian Games where she failed to win a medal but the youngster regained her confidence after winning two gold medals at the Youth Olympics.
Manu will also compete in 25m pistol alongside Asian Games gold medallist Rahi Sarnobat, and Chinki Yadav. Seasoned Rahi made a strong comeback from injury by becoming the first Indian woman shooter to win gold at the Asian Games.
In men’s 25m rapid fire pistol, focus will be on two teenagers: Anish Bhanwala, who won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and 17-year-old Adarsh Singh, who beat a quality field to win the national championships and fared well in trials to clinch a place in the team. The World Cup will be Adarsh’s first international meet.
In the 10m air rifle Deepak Kumar, who won silver medal at the Asian Games, and Ravi Kumar will be in action while in 50m rifle 3 position, seasoned Sanjeev Rajput and Chain Singh will spearhead India.
The tough field notwithstanding, home conditions can prove favourable for India to run away with a clutch of Olympic quota places.