National shooting selection trials: Elavenil Valarivan wins air rifle top spot

Elavenil Valarivan from Gujarat sprang a surprise on the seasoned shooters as she won the women’s air rifle top spot, with a comprehensive 4.4 point margin over international Elizabeth Koshy in the sixth shooting National selection trials at the Dr. Karni Singh Range, Tughlakabad, on Tuesday.

In 50m rifle prone event, Sushil Ghalay grabbed the top spot.

Elavenil Valarivan from Gujarat sprang a surprise on the seasoned shooters as she won the women’s air rifle top spot, with a comprehensive 4.4 point margin over international Elizabeth Koshy in the sixth shooting National selection trials at the Dr. Karni Singh Range, Tughlakabad, on Tuesday. Olympian Ayonika Paul settled for the third place, after having placed second in the earlier trial. Mehuli Ghosh, Aayushi Gupta, Olympian Apurvi Chandela, qualification topper Zeena Khitta (417.9) and Lajja Gauswami placed fourth to eighth in that order. In men’s rifle prone event, Sushil Ghalay beat a strong field and pipped Swapnil Kusale by 0.6 point for the first place. Olympian Sanjeev Rajput finished third ahead of Hariom Singh, Chain Singh, Gagan Narang, Surendra Singh Rathod and Shamsher Singh Bhandari. The results:

Men: 50m rifle prone: 1. Sushil Ghalay 248.8 (625.3); 2. Swapnil Kusale 248.2 (622.6); 3. Sanjeev Rajput 226.6 (623.4). 25m standard pistol: 1. Arpit Goel 576; 2. Mahendar Singh 575; 3. Anish Bhanwala 573. Women: 10m air rifle: 1. Elavenil Valarivan 252.1 (415.4); 2. Elizabeth Susan Koshy 247.7; (414.7) 3. Ayonika Paul 226.1 (417.7).