National selection: Vijay Kumar, Ruby clinch top spot

The Punjab girl, Ruby, beat Pushpanjali Rana of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) by 1.4 point in the final, after having qualified with a score of 380.

In centre fire pistol, Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar topped with 580.

Ruby Tomer tamed a strong field and clinched the top spot in women’s air pistol in the shooting National selection trials at the Dr. Karni Singh Range, Tughlakabad, on Monday.

The Punjab girl, Ruby, beat Pushpanjali Rana of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) by 1.4 point in the final, after having qualified with a score of 380, the same as four others.

Harshada Nithave placed third ahead of Rahi Sarnobat. Olympian Annu Raj Singh, who had topped the qualification with an impressive score of 385, placed sixth behind Anisa Sayyed.

Some of the much accomplished shooters like Harveen Srao (376), Shri Nivetha (376), Shweta Singh (375), Malaika Goel (374) and Yashaswini Deswal (369) failed to make the final.

In men’s rifle 3-position event, Rahul Poonia topped yet again, four points ahead of Swapnil Kusale, after having qualified for the knock-out phase with a modest score of 1136.

Nigam Parida, Kapil Rana, Deepak Kumar, Hariom Singh and Abemo Kikon finished fourth to eighth in that order.

In centre fire pistol, Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar topped with 580, one point ahead of Omkar Singh. Wazir Singh Rathee placed third ahead of Pemba Tamang (577), Samaresh Jung (576), Harpreet Singh (573) and a pioneer in pistol shooting, Ashok Pandit (572).