Jr World Championship: India misses possible team gold as shooter disqualified

New Delhi, Jun 20 (PTI) Teenage shooter Anvii Rathord clinched the women’s 10m air rifle bronze medal at the ISSF Junior World Championship, but India’s campaign suffered a major setback as a team disqualification cost it a certain medal and possibly even a gold in Suhl, Germany on Saturday.

Despite the disappointment, India continued to top the medal tally with nine medals — four gold, one silver and four bronze. Great Britain were second with two gold and one silver medals.

The 18-year-old Anvii shot 230.6 in the eight-shooter final to finish behind China’s Zhou Shiqi (252.5) and France’s Anceline Brackman (251.5), who claimed the gold and silver medals respectively.

The other Indian finalist, Lavanya Rawat, finished fourth.

In the qualification

round, Anvii shot 631.7, while Lavanya scored 631.2 to enter the final in third and sixth places respectively.

However, the Indian team comprising Anvii, Lavanya and Shambhavi Shravan Kshirsagar was disqualified after Shambhavi breached the International Shooting Sports Federation’s (ISSF) Rule 7.5.2.2 pertaining to stiffness measurement standards.

The rule relates to the compliance standards for shooting jackets and trousers, specifically their stiffness and flexibility. Failure to clear the stiffness or rigidity tests during pre- or post-competition equipment control results in immediate disqualification.

“Athlete 1509 KSHIRSAGAR Shambhavi Shravan (IND) – ISSF Rule 7.5.2.2 Stiffness Measurement Standards (DSQ),” said ISSF on its result sheet for the event.

Earlier in the championship, India had endured another heartbreak in the women’s 10m air pistol event when Vanshika Chaudhary made a costly blunder while preparing for her final shot despite being on course for gold and a possible junior world record, eventually finishing fourth.

The 21-year-old remained motionless and failed to fire her final shot, leaving the jury and range officials stunned and prompting National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) secretary-general Pawankumar Singh to describe the incident as “unfortunate”. PTI AM AM KHS