Ankur Mittal earned the biggest prize of his career as the 25-year old clinched silver in the men’s Double Trap event at the ISSF World Cup in New Delhi on Monday.
Ankur, whose father Ashok Mittal and elder brother Ajay Mittal are also shotgun shooters, lifted the gloom in the Indian shooting fraternity after overcoming a stiff challenge to add to the bronze won by Pooja Ghatkar in 10m air rifle on the inaugural day of the top-notch event.
Till now, the double-trap marksman’s achievements included a gold (2014) and bronze (2016) at the Asian Shooting Championships.
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Ankur made it to the finals --- where only six shooters make the grade --- tied fourth with two others on 137. However, in the finals, the shooter who has risen through the junior ranks, was in a different league altogether.
He breathed down Australia’s James Willett’s neck and in the progressive elimination round --- where the finalists shoot 15 doubles with eliminations taking place after 15, 20, 25, 30 and 40 doubles --- he emerged second best to Willet who had a finals score of 75, to Ankur’s 74.
{{/usCountry}}He breathed down Australia’s James Willett’s neck and in the progressive elimination round --- where the finalists shoot 15 doubles with eliminations taking place after 15, 20, 25, 30 and 40 doubles --- he emerged second best to Willet who had a finals score of 75, to Ankur’s 74.
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