India’s Ronjan Sodhi equalled the final world record of 194 out of 200 at the World Cup in Belgrade. This he did after equalling the preliminary world record of 147 out of 150, writes Kamesh Srinivasan.
Ronjan Sodhi is in the best of form now. Yet, he may not make it to the Olympics in Beijing in August. Some irony that.
Ronjan, 28, was in sublime form as he bagged the double trap gold with two world records in the shotgun World Cup in Belgrade, Serbia, recently. The effort, however, was a trifle late in the day as the quota places for the Olympics had all been taken and the world body of shooting, ISSF, had also issued all the wild cards in April.
Ronjan, blissfully ignorant of the fact that he would not get a wild card, equalled the final world record of 194 out of 200. This he did after equalling the preliminary world record of 147 out of 150.
Daniele Di Spigno of Italy had shot the final world record of 194 while crowning himself the world champion in 1999.
“It is not everyday that one gets to see world records being equalled and that too by an Indian and one of my team-mates with whom I have spent about 10 years. It was pure magic for me,” said the Olympic silver medallist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who had witnessed the records being shot down one after the other.
Rathore, on the other hand, had to be content with a 24th place finish having scored 134 out of 150.
It was indeed a terrific effort by Ronjan, who had been through some tough times earlier as his new born baby had contracted an infection which had forced him to skip the previous World Cup in Suhl, Germany.
Ronjan, who had shot 145 out of 150 in the World Cup in Kerrville, US, continued his run in Belgrade as he shot rounds of 49, 48, a perfect 50 and then wound up the show with a 47. “It feels great to win the gold with two world records. It is a dream for any sportsman. God has been kind in showering so much happiness on us,” said Ronjan.
While Rathore was impressed with his team-mate’s superb shooting — Ronjan shot every bird after missing two early ones in the second series — Ronjan took everyone’s breath away with a classy display in the final where he showed no sign of nerves.
“I had learnt a lot from my previous experience. I knew what to do,” said Ronjan, who missed winning a medal in the earlier World Cup despite scoring 145 as he had a below par fare in the final, managing only 38 out of 50.
Olympic champion Richard Faulds of Britain, who had equalled Michael Diamond’s 10-year-old world record of 147 in Suhl, had to be content with a silver medal. He finished two points behind Ronjan after a 145 in the preliminary phase.
Ronjan could have broken the final world record had he not missed the 46th bird. He shot very well after missing the 22nd and 28th birds.
When you compare Rathore’s best this season, a 140 at the World Cup in Kerrville, one gets to appreciate the performance of Ronjan Sodhi better. Ronjan, though, is all praise for Rathore and is confident that the Olympic silver medallist will once again rise to the occasion in Beijing.
“I know how hard Rathore has been training and I am sure he will do his best in the Olympics,” he observed.
Ronjan would rather miss the Olympics than eye the quota place won by Rathore. Even if the quota places are won for the country and not for the individual, the general practice is to send the ones who win the quota place to the Olympics.
The problem is India has only one quota place for double trap and it has two world class shooters in the event. Ronjan, however, has to take some of the blame as he had missed the bus despite winning a bronze in the World Cup in Santo Domingo last year. He had started shakily with a 43, but thereafter compiled cards of 48 and 49 followed by a 47 in the final. His 187 out of 200 was his personal best. That he managed to equal the world mark of 194 in such a short time is a testimony to the kind of improvement he has made.
“I have been going to Russell Mark for training. I would go to him now and continue with the training to stay prepared. If I get a chance to enter the Olympics, it will be great. Otherwise, it is not the end of the world. My time will definitely come,” Ronjan said.
The Result:Men'S Double Trap1. Ronjan Sodhi 194 EFWR (147 EWR); 2. Richard Faulds (GBR) 192 (145); 3. Hakan Dahlby (Sweden) 191 (144); 24. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore 134; 35. Vikram Bhatnagar 124. MQS: Mohammed Asab 137; Vikram Chopra 131.
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