Ankur Mittal asserted his class yet again as he clinched the double trap gold by equalising the World record in the final of the shotgun World Cup in Acapulco, Mexico, on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old Ankur equalised the world record of 75 out of 80 in the final, to beat James Willett (73)of Australia who had made the record in winning the World Cup last month in Delhi.
Incidentally, Ankur had won the silver then, and it was an encouraging sign for him to graduate to his maiden gold so quickly.
“I wouldn’t call it a revenge. Winning and being defeated are all
part of the game. The conditions in the final range were perfect. The wind affected the qualification rounds, but in the afternoon, it was not so strong’’, Ankur was quoted as saying by the ISSF.
It was the second gold in a World Cup this season for India, following the free pistol gold by Jitu Rai in the Delhi World Cup. It was also the sixth World Cup, as India had won a gold, two silver and two bronze in the World Cup last month.
Ankur had qualified in the second place with 138 following a series of 26, 29, 27, 29 and 27. For being ranked before the final, he beat Qi Ying of China 6-5 after the two were tied on 138.
With the new rules, whenever there is a tie in the knock-out phase, the ranking of the shooters in the qualification will prevail. But, in case of a tie for a medal, there will be a shoot-off.
The qualification topper Andreas Loew of Germany missed a medal by one point to Qi Ying. The second Indian in the competition, the young Shapath Bharadwaj shot 128 following a series of 25, 24, 25, 26 and 28.
The World Cup will continue with the skeet event for men and women.
The results: 1. Ankur Mittal 75 (EWR) 138(6); 2. James Willett (Aus) 75 (135); 3. Qi Ying (Chn) 52 (138)5; 12. Shapath Bharadwaj 128.
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