Ankur Mittal has made India proud by winning gold at the International Shooting Sport Federation Shotgun World Cup. Mittal beat his Australian rival James Willet in the men’s double trap. The event was hosted at Acapulco, Mexico.
Ankur Mittal scored 75 out of 80 points while James Willet scored 73. This gold medal is the first one for India in the competition.
He stood second in the qualifying rounds. He scored 138 from a possible 150. Mittal’s missed five targets along with two in the last 40 to equal the world record. He finished with a score of 75. Willet missed seven targets. Ying Qi from China scored 52 and secured himself bronze.
There are more Indian shooters who have yet to show their talent. The men’s and women’s skeet shooting disciplines will be held on the weekend. Defending for India in the men section will be Man Singh, Angad Vir Singh Bajwa and Amrinder Cheema. In the women’s skeet events all hopes have been laid on Rashmee Rathore.
Ankur recently got a silver medal in the ISSF held in New Delhi in February this year. He had scored 74 points. James Willet had taken the gold in this event.
Ankur said this wasn’t revenge. James is a fine shooter. Winning and losing were all parts of the game, he added. He said the surroundings in the final range were impeccable. Winds did have effect in the qualification rounds. However, afternoon seemed fine.
The Indian shooter had also represented India at the Asian Shotgun Championship, 2014. He won gold for India in the men’s double trap. Talents like Ankur Mittal are the pride of our country.
The Indian shooting fraternity took to Twitter to commend the young shooter for his exceptional performance at the event.
