Sofiya sets new world record on way to gold

Sofiya Shulzhenko

Kazakhstan’s Sofiya Shulzhenko set a new world record in the 50m rifle 3 positions women’s event on her way to winning gold at the Asian Rifle/ Pistol Championship here on Tuesday.

India, meanwhile, claimed two more gold medals on day seven of the competition at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range here.

Sofiya ended the 35-shot final with a score of 358.2, four points clear of silver-winning Aakriti Dahiya of India. Aakriti’s senior teammate Anjum Moudgil, a World Championship medalist, clinched bronze with 340.4.

In the junior women’s 3 positions final, Prachi Gaikwad emerged triumphant with 353.3. Kazakh shooter Tomiris Amanova, 14, won silver with 351.4 while Anushka Thokur bagged another bronze for the host with an effort that ended after the 34th shot at 341.1.

Strong display

In the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions final, Aakriti was in the lead after the first kneeling position, but Sofiya had a strong display in the second prone position to rise up to second. Thereafter, she was the only shooter to log above 50 points in both the five-shot series of the standing position.