 On the opening day of the ISSF World Cup at Guadalajara in Mexico, India had a fruitful day as they won three medals which include a gold and two bronze.
Shahzar Rizvi clinched the gold medal with a world record score in his maiden ISSF World Cup appearance. The Meerut-based Rizvi shot a world record 242.3 in the 10 metre air pistol event's final to beat reigning Olympic champion Christian Reitz of Germany to win the top prize. The German had a score of 239.7. Pistol ace Jitu Rai won the bronze in the event with a score of 219, as three Indians made it to the finals of the season's first World Cup. Om Prakash Mitharval, the other Indian shooter in the event, finished at creditable fourth position with a score of 198.4 points.
Mehuli Ghosh added to India's medal tally as she shot a world junior record 228.4 to win bronze in the women's 10 metre air rifle event. In this women's event too, three Indian shooters progressed to the final.
Anjum Moudgil finished at fourth position with 208.6 points, while Apurvi Chandela was seventh in the standings with 144.1 points.
Romania’s Laura Georgeta Coman came up with a classy display, leading throughout to win the gold medal with 251.5.
National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) president Raninder Singh has lauded the efforts of his shooters. He described it as a stupendous performance particularly from Shahzar as not only did he win gold in his first senior World Cup, but did so with a world record score. He said, Mehuli also needs to be equally nodded as she is still a junior and to come up with a junior world record and a medal on debut at a senior World Cup is no mean feat.
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