Picture Credit: Twitter
On the penultimate day of the competition, teenage Indian rifle shooter Nischal won silver in the Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions (3P) event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Rifle/Pistol stage in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Nischal finished second behind Norwegian Rifle ace Jeanette Hegg Duestad in her first-ever senior World Cup final with a score of 458.
In the 45-shot final, Nischal and Duestad faced off right away. After the first 15 kneeling shots, she was 0.1 behind the Norwegian, and after the following 15 prone shots, she was at the same distance.
In two early elimination rounds that included 73 athletes, 18 shooters made an exit from the competition. Nischal qualified safely with a relay one score of 587. She shot in relay two, as did her fellow countrymen and former qualifier national record holders Anjum Moudgil and Ayushi Podder.
It is to be noted that Nischal defeated Anjum's score of 591 at the President's Cup in Cairo last year with a qualifying score of 592, including a flawless 200 from the prone position. Anjum herself scored 586, however, she came 10th and missed the championship by one point. Ayushi was 35th with a score of 580.
Jeanette Hegg Duestad now holds the titles of 300m 3P and Air Rifle European Champions. She also has 12 ISSF World Cup medals to her name, including five golds. In Air Rifle, she finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics as well.
Talking about the ISSF World Cup in Rio de Janeiro, Italy prevailed with two medals, followed by China, with one gold and the most overall medals—eight—in second place. Thus, the 16-member Indian team came home from the World Cup in Rio with one gold and one silver medal and seventh overall finish.
