India Ravi Kumar gave a very impressive performance in the Men 10m Air Rifle on the opening day of the ISSF World Cup in Munich.
The 27-year-old shot 629.1 (104.9, 104.5, 105.0, 105.4, 104.4, 104.9) to register the highest ever qualification score by an Indian at a World Cup. It is also 5.1 points better than the qualification score which the Air Force shooter had shot at the World Cup in New Delhi earlier this year.
Ravi had a shaky start in the finals as he registered 9.7 and 10.0 on his opening two shots. The reigning national champion did well in the later stages with a perfect 10.9 on the 13th shot but eventually finished 5th with a score of 185.7.
This was Ravi’s second consecutive World Cup final after the one in Delhi and his best ever finish at a World Cup so far.
Rio Olympic silver medallist Sergey Kamenskiy of Russia won the gold with a new world record of 250.9.
Kamenskiy beat his teammate Vladimir Maslennikov after a thrilling neck and neck fight throughout the second half of the match, leaving him in second place with 250.4 points. The bronze was won by Vitali Bubnovich of Belarus.
Two other Indians in the fray, Satyendra Singh and Deepak Kumar, shot 623.9 and 617.8 to finish in 46th and 84th place respectively among 129 shooters.
It was an excellent performance by Ravi in a very high quality competition in which the finals was closed at 627.8.
Top shooters like Peter Sidi and Istvan Peni of Hungary, Rio silver medallist in the event Serhiy Kulish of Ukraine, Rio finalist Illia Charheika of Belarus and former Olympic champion Alin Moldoveanu of Romania fell by the wayside in qualification.
Fantastic shooting by Ravi Kumar in Munich. Happy that @abhinavbindratp center helped him get back to top shape last month.
— Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) May 19, 2017
The Results:
Men’s 10m Air Rifle: 1. Sergey Kamenskiy (Rus) 250.9 WR (629.2); 2. Vladimir Maslennikov (Rus) 250.4 (629.3); 3. Vitali Bubnovich (Bel) 228.9 (630.2); 5. Ravi Kumar 185.7 (629.1); 46. Satyendra Singh (623.9); 84. Deepak Kumar 617.8.