Bangkok: A fit-again Indian shooter Jitu Rai edged past a strong field, including former Olympic champion Pang Wei, to clinch the 50m pistol gold at the ISSF World Cup yesterday.
<img title="Jitu Rai" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2016/mar/05Jitu-Rai.jpg" alt="Jitu Rai" /> Jitu Rai
Jitu, who had been nursing a palm injury for some months, beat China&rsquo;s former World and Olympic Champion Wei to second place shooting 191.3 to Pang&rsquo;s 186.5.
Wang Zhiwei, also of China and an Olympic bronze medallist, finished third with a final round score of 165.8.
India&rsquo;s Prakash Nanjappa shot 549 in the qualification round to be placed 17th.
Jitu reached the final by finishing third at the end of the 60 shot qualifying series with a score of 562. Wei led the field of eight top qualifiers with a score of 564, while Zheiwei followed him in second place scoring 563. Former World Champion Tomoyuki Matsuda of Japan was also going to be a threat in the final given his recent form in the Asian Shooting qualifiers in Delhi.
Jitu did not start strongly in the final but maintained a top three position throughout.
Wei finally conceded the lead to Jitu after having below par 13th and 14th shots. The following two shots also saw a similar pattern for Wei and from then on, it was Jitu all the way as both the Chinese challengers had a tame end to the 20-shot final. Tomoyuki Matsuda, after briefly lying in the top three, was eliminated in 5th place.
After having an incredible run of five consecutive ISSF medals including Gold, in a period beginning 2014 to beginning of last year, a period where he also won an Asian Games gold, there was a lull of sorts from Jitu.
Saturday will see the finals of the men&rsquo;s 50m prone and 10m air pistol events.
Jitu will look to increase his medal tally in the pistol event while Gagan Narang and Chain Singh will lead India&rsquo;s charge in the Rifle event.

A fit-again Indian shooter Jitu Rai edged past a strong field, including former Olympic champion Pang Wei, to clinch the 50m pistol gold at the ISSF World Cup yesterday

Jitu Rai fires 50m pistol gold at Bangkok World Cup

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Jitu Rai fires 50m pistol gold at Bangkok World Cup

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