India’s Apurvi Chandela broke the reigning World Record in Women’s 10m Air Rifle competition to clinch the gold medal in the ongoing ISSF Shooting World Cup on Day 1. The 26-year-old scored a staggering 252.9 points, breaking China’s Shi Mengyao’s previous record of 252.1 which she scored in the 2017 ISSF Shooting World Cup in New Delhi.
However, this gold medal means nothing for the nation in terms of Olympic quotas as Apurvi and Anjum Moudgal had already bagged the maximum number of quotas available for a country. But, this win should boost her morale immensely and her chances of winning a medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics would be bolstered.
In the qualifying round, Apurvi Chandela finished fourth with a total score of 629.3. However, Anjum Moudgal and Elavenil Valarivan who too represented India in the event finished in the 12th and 30th spot and couldn’t qualify for the final round. Mehuli Ghosh, who was participating as MQS in the event, topped the Qualification Relay 1 with 631 points.
Later in the day, teenage sensation Manu Bhaker took an insurmountable lead in the Stage 1 of Women’s 25m Pistol category with a score of 296. The second round and finals will continue tomorrow.
