Suruchi Phogat completes hat-trick of World Cup gold medals

Suruchi Phogat completes hat-trick of World Cup gold medals

Suruchi Phogat competed hard in the final and won the women’s air pistol gold with a 0.2 point margin over Camille Jedrzejewski of France in the shooting World Cup in Munich, Germany, on Friday.

It was a rare hat-trick of gold medals in women’s air pistol this season, as the 19-year-old Suruchi had won the World Cups in Buenos Aires and Lima as well.

It was also the fifth medal in as many attempts this season for Suruchi, as she had won a gold a bronze in the mixed air pistol events in the last two World Cups.

After qualifying with the second highest score of 588, Suruchi tackled a string of 9s in the final, and the fluctuating fortunes with great composure, to deliver the gold. The French had shot 10 points less than Suruchi in qualification, and was 0.5 point ahead of Suruchi before the last two shots in the final. Suruchi shot 10.5 and 9.5 in the climax and that was just about enough to ensure the gold.

Qualification topper Yao Qianxun (589) of China won the bronze.

Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker shot 574 and placed 25th.

The gold medal, along with the two earlier bronze, pulled India up on the medals table to the fourth spot, behind China, Norway and Independent athletes. China led with three gold and two bronze. Norway had two gold and a silver.