How Did Kedarling Uchaganve Lead Army to Victory in Men’s Air Pistol at KSSM Shooting Championship?

Synopsis
In a thrilling showdown at the KSSM Shooting Championship, Kedarling Uchaganve led a remarkable performance by Army shooters, claiming gold in the men’s air pistol event. This article delves into the intense competition and the standout performances that shaped the championship.
Key Takeaways
- Kedarling Uchaganve led the Army to a gold medal in men's air pistol.
- The Army secured five out of the top six positions.
- Over 552 competitors participated in the event.
- The junior title was claimed by Dhairya Prashar.
- The championship showcases the rising talent in shooting sports.
Bhopal, May 4 (NationPress) Army shooters dominated the podium by securing five out of the top six spots, with Kedarling Balakrishna Uchaganve clinching the gold medal. His teammate, Ajay Kumar Ambawat, settled for silver, while Ujjawal Malik from the Navy took bronze, preventing a complete Army medal sweep in the men’s 10m air pistol event at the ongoing 23rd Kumar Surendra Singh Memorial (KSSM) Shooting Championship.
During the final round held at the M.P. State Shooting Academy's Finals Hall, both Kedarling and Ajay were tied at 223.6 going into their last two shots out of 24. Ajay fired an impressive 10.9 on his 23rd shot, pulling ahead by 0.7 points.
However, a subsequent score of 9.6 dashed his hopes, while Kedarling sealed the victory with a strong 10.6, finishing at 244.4 and winning by a narrow margin of 0.3. A total of 552 participants competed in the men’s air pistol event.
Among the competitors was Sarabjot Singh, a bronze medalist from the Paris Olympics, who finished 18th with a score of 579. Other notable Army shooters, Ravinder Singh and Olympian Gurpreet Singh, returning from international competitions in Buenos Aires and Lima, recorded commendable scores of 583 and 581 respectively, with Ravinder finishing sixth in the finals.
The junior category saw Dhairya Prashar from Chandigarh winning the title with a final score of 241.6, amidst over 300 junior competitors. Sandeep Bishnoi from Rajasthan and Kapil from Haryana took home silver and bronze medals respectively.
Dhairya also achieved a silver medal in the youth category, narrowly losing to local favorite Yugpratap Singh Rathore. Chirag Sharma from Uttar Pradesh secured bronze in a youth competition that attracted over 500 participants.
Earlier, reigning national champion in men's rifle 3-Positions, Kiran Ankush Jadhav from the Navy, won gold in the 10m air rifle event, while Vivek Sharma (Army) took silver and Vishal Singh from the Army won bronze.
The Championship is set to conclude on Monday.