Ananya edges Meghana for air rifle gold in National championship

Ananya Naidu wins women's air rifle gold by 0.2 points at National Shooting championship in Madhya Pradesh.

Ananya Naidu of Maharashtra pipped Meghana Sajjanar of Railways by 0.2 points to clinch the women’s air rifle gold in the 67th National Shooting championship at the Madhya Pradesh Academy on Tuesday.

It was a commendable fare from the 26-year-old Ananya after she had qualified in the eighth spot with a relatively modest score of 630.9, in an intimidating field of 761 shooters.

The experienced Meghana led for the most part in the final till she marginally slipped on the 22nd shot, with a 10. Ananya took a 0.2 point lead at this stage, and held on to the advantage, as both the shooters tallied an identical 20.6 on the last two shots.

Gautami Bhanot, rifle 3-position champion Ashi Chouksey, Arya Borse, Aayushi Gupta and Disha Dhankhar were the others to make the final.

World Championship silver medallists Mehuli Ghosh (630) and Anjum Moudgil (628.6) were placed 16th and 29th respectively. Olympian Anjum had earlier won the rifle 3-position silver.

Olympic quota winner Tilottama Sen, who had missed Paris Games by a whisker, shot 628.1 for the 33rd spot.

Gautami Bhanot won the junior gold beating Mayuri Pawar, who reversed the result in the youth final. Disha Dhankhar won a bronze in both.