Sanjeev Rajput lived up to his reputation of being the country’s best 50m Rifle Three Position shooter as he finished 5th at the ISSF World Cup in New Delhi.
The 36-year-old Rajput, looked in contention for a medal at the end of the prone position but a few bad shots in the standing position costed him a podium finish.
Competing in the day’s second final, Rajput was well-placed with a score of 305.5 at the end of the prone position, jumping two places from the kneeling series. However, a series of low nines and an 8.4 in the fourth shot of the standing series, just before the start of elimination round, did all the damage.
The two-time Olympian tried to come back but failed to close out the deficit at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range, eventually finishing 5th with a score of 420.6.
“I took time to settle down in the standing position. I wish I had the time to shoot a few more sighters. I am bit disappointed that I could not win a medal in front of home crowd in a Word Cup,” said Rajput.
Winner of three World Cup medals, including a gold medal, Rajput’s life was turned upside down by allegations of rape by a national-level shooter.
“I have not been able to train properly due the developments (allegations of rape) in the last couple of months,” added Rajput.
Chain Singh shot 1157 to finish 9th while Satyendra Singh finished 13th with a score of 1154.
China continued its dominance as Hui Zicheng and Jian Sun clinched the gold and silver medals respectively, in a one-two finish for the country. Switzerland Jan Lochbihler, who led the field for a while, eventually bagged the bronze medal.
This was Hui’s sixth World Cup Gold. Interestingly the 27-year-old has never claimed a silver or a bronze in this event at a World Cup till now.
The Results:
Men’s 50m Rifle Three Position: 1. Hui Zicheng (Chn) 454.2 (1176); 2. Sun Jian (Chn) 451.6 (1177); 3. Jan Lochbihler (Sui) 44.2 (1163); 5. Sanjeev Rajput 420.6 (1159); 9. Chain Singh 1157; 13. Satyendra Singh 1154. MQS: Akhil Sheoran 1155.