Jitu Rai claimed the Pistol Champions Trophy along with a cash prize of 5000 EUR on the concluding day of the ISSF World Cup Final in Bologna, Italy.
In the mixed knock-out competition meant only for the medallists in the World Cup Final, Jitu beat Damir Mikec of Serbia 29.6 to 28.3 in the climax, featuring three shots.
Shooters are eliminated after the first four shots, one each after every successive shot. The last two compete on a three-shot format. Rio Olympic champion Anna Korakaki finished third.
Two days back, Jitu had won silver in 50m pistol event before finishing sixth in the 10m air pistol on Saturday.
The Rifle Champions Trophy was won by Rio Olympic silver medallist Sergey Kamenskiy of Russia who beat two-time Olympian Du Li of China 31.7 to 31.6. The London Olympics champion Yi Siling of China took the third place.
Three-time Olympian rifle shooter Anjali Bhagwat who was India’s first shooter to win the “Champion of Champions” title in 2002 congratulated Jitu.
Congratulations @JituRai , great show! keep it up.
— Anjali Bhagwat (@AnjaliOlympian) October 7, 2016
National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) President Raninder Singh also congratulated Jitu.
“Jitu Rai is in a league of his own in the world of pistol shooting and the Champions Trophy win reiterates his versatility as a shooter. On behalf of the NRAI, we congratulate him on his latest success and wish him all the best in continuing to bring laurels for the country,” Singh said.
The Champions Trophy was sponsored by SIUS and ISSF.