Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Zoravar Singh Sandhu clinched the men’s trap bronze at the World Championship Shotgun championships in Athens on October 17. Shooting at the Malakasa Shooting Range, the Indian overcame rain, shadows, and the most unsuitable bib number to nail down 31 of the first 40 targets in the 50-shot final. He finished behind former Olympic champion and now world champion Josip Glasnovic of Croatia, who won gold with 44 hits, and junior world champion Andres Garcia of Spain, who won silver with a score of 39. “It was a great experience. It was a tough range, tough conditions to shoot, but that’s how it is, and here we are. I would like to thank my family, my coaches, and teammates for their support,” said a visibly pleased but amazingly calm Zoravar after the final.
A thrilled National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) President, Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, said after the results came through, “It is yet another historic moment for Indian shooting with Zoravar helping us win only a second individual world championship medal in trap. It shows the level of confidence of our Shooting squad that with every international outing, new barriers are being breached. Full marks to Zoravar for his commitment and dedication, and also to Peter Wilson and the entire coaching staff, who, since coming on, have helped our Trap squad get better and better.”
Zoravar’s challenge began early on Friday morning, with his first task being ensuring qualification, despite missing just one target out of 100, over the first four rounds of qualification spread over the past two days. He missed the seventh target but got 21 out of the first 22 before missing the 23rd target to log a 23 for the fifth and final round. A total of 122 (24,25,25,25,23) over five rounds would turn out to be enough as overnight leader and former world championship silver medalist Anton Glasnovic, equalled the world record with a perfect score of 125, to top the table.
