Suresh Kumar sets new mark in standard pistol

BANGALORE, JAN 22: Suresh Kumar of the Army made a new mark and N S Rana and Navneet Singh Tyagi from Uttar Pradesh emerged victorious in the Standard Pistol 25 m Indian Rule as the 42nd National Shooting Championship got off to a rollicking start here today.

Suresh Kumar, who had emerged on the scene recently, had done well in the recent Asansol Championship, hogged the limelight and was in his elements as he went on to shatter the six-year-old mark of D B Ram in the competitions open for Services personnel. Suresh Kumar totalled 286 to better Ram’s mark of 285, which was set in 1993 in Ahmedabad. Devinder Singh and Kuldeep Singh from the Army finished second and third with scores of 284 and 281 respectively.

N S Rana did not face much challenge in clinching the gold. Forty-seven year old Rana, father of ace shooter Jaspal Rana, was not stretched by his opponents in the event Open for civilians. Gursimranjit Singh Bhullar and Jasmeet Singh Bhullar from Punjab, had to be satisfied with silver and bronzewith total of 278 and 277, respectively.

However, Tyagi, who took to serious shooting just five months ago, was the cynosure of all eyes as he was head and shoulders above other competitors in the junior category. He finished with 272 while second placed Prakram Singh was 254. Rakesh Kumar Tomar of Uttar Pradesh collected bronze with 247.