The Hindu : Rathore wins bronze and Olympic quota

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2003

Sport

Sport - Shooting

Rathore wins bronze and Olympic quota

By Our Special Correspondent

NICOSIA (CYPRUS) SEPT. 16. He has been asserting his class in every competition through the whole season. Major Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore embellished on the big stage, the World Championship, to emphasise his growing stature as one of the finest contemporary double trap marksmen, as he won the bronze and the Olympic quota here on Tuesday.

The 33-year-old Rathore shot a 48 out of 50 in a nerve-wracking final, after having assured himself of the elusive Olympic quota with a 141 out of 150 in the preliminary phase.

The other five in the final, the eventual gold medallist Walton Eller of the U.S., silver medallist Russell Mark of Australia, Ahmed Almakhtoum of the UAE, Daniele Di Spignio of Italy and Adam Vella of Australia had won the quota place in earlier competitions.

In fact, Rathore was the only shooter among the top-10 in the event, who despite being rated at No. 6, had not yet won the quota place.

Rathore had rounds of 49, 45 and 47 in the preliminary series, as he made it as the fourth-best in a strong field. Both Eller and Mark shot 48 in the final after having shot 144 and 143 in the qualification series.

Ahmed Almakhtoum who had won the quota in Rathore's backyard in New Delhi, was placed third at 142, a point ahead of Rathore, but came up with a 45 in the final to finish fourth, two points behind Rathore's 187.

In fact, the roles were just getting reversed, as Almakhtoum had beaten Rathore by two points for the quota and the gold in the World Cup in Delhi, 187 to 185.

Di Spignio at 140 and Adam Vella at 139 were unable to overtake Rathore as the two came up with 45 and 46 respectively in the final, to end up fighting for the fifth slot.

Rathore looked to have recovered from the first round blues that had hampered his qualification in the recent Lonato World Cup when he had stumbled to a bad start and ended up eighth, as he demonstrated a strong will, with a brilliant start and wound up with a authoritative finish.

The Commonwealth Games gold medallist, who had shot a career-best 191 out of 200 in Bisley in beating the world and Olympic champions in Bisley last year, had finished fourth in the World Cup in Granada this season with a 177.

"I was sure that he would get the quota. He had been working very hard and he deserves this. Getting the quota with a World Championship medal is indeed a splendid achievement," said the national coach, Prof. Sunny Thomas.

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