Anantjeet pips Olympian Mairaj in shotgun selection trials

Anantjeet Singh Naruka defeated Olympian Mairaj Ahmad Khan 57-54 in the men’s skeet final in the National shotgun selection trials.

Anantjeet Singh Naruka (left) during the Khelo India Youth Games in Pune last month (File photo).

Anantjeet Singh Naruka was in exemplary form as he beat Olympian Mairaj Ahmad Khan 57-54 in the men’s skeet final in the National shotgun selection trials at the OASIS range on Saturday.

Smit Singh, who had topped qualification with 122, finished third ahead of National champion Angad Vir Singh Bajjwa, Ayush Rudraraju and Gurjoat Singh.

In women’s skeet, Ganemat Sekhon continued to dominate and finished first ahead of National champion Maheshwari Chauhan. Ganemat had topped qualification with 113, the same as Rashmmi Rathore who eventually placed fourth, ahead of Asees Chhina and Darshana Rathore.

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Former national champions Saniya Sheikh (108) and Arti Singh (101), apart from the young shooters Parinaaz Dhaliwal, Areeba Khan and Simranpreet Kaur Johal failed to make the final.

Areeba, however, finished on top among the juniors ahead of Darshana Rathore and Karttiki Singh Shaktawat.

The results:

Skeet:

Men: 1. Anantjeet Singh Naruka 57 (119); 2. Mairaj Ahmad Khan 54 (116); 3. Smit Singh 44 (122)

Junior men: 1. Abhay Singh Sekhon 52 (114); 2. Gurnihall Singh Garcha 46 (113); 3. Arjun Thakur 41 (104)

Women: 1. Ganemat Sekhon 53 (113); 2. Maheshwari Chauhan 49 (109); 3. Karttiki Singh Shaktawat 41 (109)

Junior women: 1. Areeba Khan 51 (107); 2. Darshana Rathore 48 (109); 3. Karttiki Singh Shaktawat 38 (109)