Rudrankksh Patil Claims Gold at Asian Shooting Championship, India Dominates Rifle Events
Former world champion shooter Rudrankksh Patil delivered a powerful statement about his form this season by securing the gold medal in the men's 10m air rifle event at the Asian Championship on Friday. Olympian Arjun Babuta finished with the silver medal, as India showcased remarkable strength in the competition.
Patil's Commanding Performance in the Final
Rudrankksh Patil, widely regarded as one of the finest rifle marksmen to emerge from India since Olympic gold medallists Abhinav Bindra and Gagan Narang, shot an exceptional score of 251.9 in the final round. He successfully held off the challenge from compatriot Arjun Babuta, who scored 250.7, to firmly establish his authority in the sport. Alongside Vishal Singh, the duo also secured the team gold medal for India in this prestigious event.
Overcoming Olympic Disappointment with Stellar Qualification
The 22-year-old Rudrankksh, who faced the disappointment of missing the Paris Olympics despite earning a quota place for India, demonstrated his class by topping the qualification round with an outstanding score of 632.1. Two more Indian shooters advanced to the eight-shooter final: Arjun Babuta placed fifth with 628.0, and Vishal Singh took eighth with 624.6.
Rudrankksh began the final cautiously, sitting in sixth position after the first set of five shots in the 'competition' stage. However, he quickly found his rhythm in the next series, moving up to second place. From that point onward, he never looked back during the 'elimination' round, maintaining his lead until the end.
Historic Achievement and Team Success
This victory marks Rudrankksh Patil's maiden individual gold medal at the continental level. He had previously claimed the mixed team top-podium spot in Jakarta in 2024. The team of Rudrankksh, Babuta, and Vishal aggregated 1884.7 points to secure the gold medal, pushing Kazakhstan with 1879.4 points and Japan with 1877.2 points to second and third places, respectively.
India's Complete Dominance in Junior Events
In the junior men's 10m air rifle event, India achieved a clean sweep of the podium. Himanshu clinched the gold medal with a score of 250.0, followed by Ansh Dabas with 247.9 in silver, and Suresh Pranav with 226.8 in bronze. The team gold also went to India, as Himanshu, Pranav, and Abhinav Shaw aggregated 1887.8 points, finishing well ahead of Kazakhstan with 1851.3 points.
This comprehensive performance at the Asian Championship highlights India's growing prowess in shooting sports, with both senior and junior athletes delivering exceptional results on the international stage.
