India’s Divya TS and Sarabjot Singh managed to put up a stellar performance for the third time as a pair. They won the gold medal in the mixed team event of 10m air pistol at the ISSF Shooting World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Also Read: ISSF Shooting World Cup 2023: India’s Rhythm Sangwan wins 10m air pistol bronze
They topped the qualification round of 55 teams on the second day of the ISSF Shooting World Cup with a score of 581 and made it to the gold medal match. The Indian pair beat Serbian legends Damir Mikec and Zorana Arunovic 16-14 to top the podium. Earlier, Sarabjot Singh scored 293 across three series in the qualification round. While Divya TS managed 288 for a total score of 581. Damir Mikec and Zorana Arunovic also ended up getting the same score but finished second due to fewer 10s (19) compared to Sarabjot Singh and Divya TS (24).
The Indian pair had finished fifth in the two World Cups held in Cairo and Bhopal. This is Sarabjot’s second consecutive gold medal. He had achieved success in the individual air pistol in Bhopal in March. While this was Divya’s first senior medal at this level.
Meanwhile, the Turkish pair of Simal Yilmaz and Ismail Keles won the bronze medal. They defeated the Italian pair of Sara Costantino and Paolo Monna 17-9. While the pair of Varun Tomar and Esha Singh finished sixth in the qualification with a score of 578.
The gold by Sarabjot Singh and Divya TS was the second medal for India at the ongoing ISSF Shooting World Cup. Earlier on Wednesday, Rhythm Sangwan opened India’s medal tally in the ISSF Shooting World Cup. She a bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol event. Rhythm shot 219.1 to finish third behind two-time Olympic champion gold medalist Anna Korakaki of Greece and silver medalist Olena Kostevych of Ukraine.
However, in the 10m air rifle mixed team event, reigning world champion in men’s 10m air rifle Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil and Ramita, along with Hriday Hazarika and Tilottama Sen could not progress to the final. Hriday Hazarika and Tilottama Sen finished 17th with a combined score of 627.6. While Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil and Ramita came 28th with a total score of 626.3.
