India claim two podiums at shooting World Cup

Two Indian shooters made impressive international debuts at the World Shooting Para Sport World Cup in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, on Friday (24 February), getting their first taste of the podium.

Two competitions also saw world records, as a new finals format continued to shake up the single position events on the third day of action.

Hungary’s Krisztina David (230.7) registered a new world record in P2 (women’s 10m air pistol SH1).

The European bronze medallist repeated her winning performance from the 2016 World Cup in the same venue, clearly favouring the range at the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club.

India’s Pooja Agarwal (228.4) impressed at her first World Cup appearance, claiming silver. Agarwal showed her potential to challenge for the top of the podium, taking the lead from David in the fourth elimination round. However a 7.5 in the final round put her just out of contention.

Thailand’s Somporn Muangsiri (201.8) secured bronze, her first World Cup top three finish.

Slovakia’s Veronika Vadovicova bagged her third gold in as many days in R2 (women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1).

The world and Paralympic champion’s score of 247.5 was a new world record once again, also her third as she capitalised on changes to the finals format.

Fifteen-year-old Avani Lekhara (244.4) shot a junior world record to take India’s second silver medal of the competition, also on her international debut.

Thailand’s Chutima Saenlar (221.7) completed the podium in third.

Poland’s Szymon Sowinski improved on his bronze medal from Thursday’s P1 (men’s 10m air pistol SH1) in P5 (mixed 10m air pistol standard SH1).

A thrilling shoot-off between Ukraine’s pistol Paralympic gold medallist Oleksii Denysiuk and Brazil’s Geraldo Rosenthal for the remaining podium places saw the Ukrainian leave with silver.

Rosenthal took bronze, the second World Cup P5 medal of his career.

R4 (mixed 10m air rifle standing SH2) will be contested on Saturday (25 February).

Live results are available at World Shooting Para Sport's website.

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