Sport
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Shooting
Raj Kumari rules the roost
By Kamesh Srinivasan
Raj Kumari who won the 50m free rifle prone event, in the National shooting championship, in Indore on Sunday.-Photo: S. Subramanium.
INDORE, JAN. 13. Raj Kumari stopped the gold winning spree of Kuheli Gangulee, in clinching the honour in the women's free rifle prone event in the National shooting championship at the Reoti range here on Sunday.
The 20-year-old Raj Kumari, training under the supervision of Major A. S. Basur in the kids section of the Infantry School in Mhow, emphasised her growing confidence with a 588 out of 600, her personal best following the 586 that had helped her win the bronze in the National Games recently.
After a relatively tentative start, with rounds of 96, 98, 98 and 97, Raj Kumari was at her fluent best in the last 20 shots, when she returned scores of 99 and 100.
``I had a good rhythm and I shot my sequence with confidence. I didn't aim to beat anyone'', said Raj Kumari, who finished her 60 shots in 30 minutes. The shooters get an hour and 15 minutes for the event, in which there is no final.
Obviously quite pleased with the fact that the Army had made arrangements for five shooters including her for competing in the forthcoming European circuit, Raj Kumari had the zeal to beat a strong field and assert her potential.
Moreover, the second year B.A. student had pipped the seasoned Anjali in the 3-position final in the National Games, and it was another feather in Raj Kumari's cap to beat an experienced shooter like Kuheli, who has competed in the last three Asian Games.
Kuheli, the CISF inspector, had been winning this event regularly. But she shot a 585 this day, which compared poorly with her best of 592, shot during the Commonwealth Championship in Auckland. Even in the National Games in Mohali, Kuheli had shot a 590 in taking the gold, one point ahead of Anjali Vedpathak. ``I started badly, and couldn't get into my usual form. I need to work on my physical fitness. I need to get the balanace'', said Kuheli, who had rounds of 97, 97, 97, 97, 99 and 98.
Chaitali Das of West Bengal took the bronze with a 583. Anjali, grappled with her form because of the paucity of good ammunition, as she had exhausted the best ones she had bought during the World Cup last year in Munich.
Anjali tried a few brands during her match, and could manage only a 576 this day, for the 10th position. Suma Shirur, Poornima Gawhane followed Anjali in that order with 574 each, while other prominent shooters Meena Kumari (571), Anuja Tere (570) and Deepali Deshpande (564) finished 15th, 18th and 25th respectively.
It was no wonder that the shooters lined up to meet and place their individual order for quality ammunition with the agents of Eley, who had arrived from Europe, and have been camping at the venue for the last few days. For, quality makes the difference.
lThe results : Women : 50m free rifle prone : 1. Raj Kumari (Inf) 588, 2. Kuheli Gangulee (CISF) 585, 3. Chaitali Das (WB) 583.
Team : 1. CISF (Kuheli Gangulee 585, Anjali Vedpathak 576, Leena Shirodkar 578) 1739; 2. Army (Navneet Duggal 578, Birmati 577, A. Philipose 572) 1727; 3. Infantry Kids (Raj Kumari 588, Sunita Sanketh 566, Meena Kumari 571) 1725.
Juniors : 1. Raj Kumari (Inf) 588 (NR, old 586); 2. V. Sindhu (Ker) 579; 3. M. Dhareenee (TN) 577.
Team : 1. Infantry Kids (Raj Kumari 588, Sharda Thapa 573, Meena Kumari 571) 1732.
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