Darius Chenai defied the odds and a strong field to clinch the men’s trap gold in the 59th National Shotgun Championship in Jaipur on Sunday.
The 53-year-old Darius beat Raninder Singh, 13-10 for the gold. The 2006 World champion Manavjit Sandhu pipped the qualification topper Prithviraj Tondaiman for the bronze.
Darius who had earlier won gold in the 2008 National championship, had to win a shoot-off with junior shooter Kismat Chopra for the last berth in the final. Darius beat Kismat Chopra 2-1 in the shoot-off.
Raninder, who had qualified in the third place with 118, was equally impressive in the knock-out phase before he slowed in the gold contest.
Interestingly, 24-year-old Kynan Chenai, son of Darius, who had won the National junior title in 2008 when his father won the men’s title, missed the final by five points.
Manavaditya Rathore, son of 2004 Olympic silver medallist Rajyavardhan Rathore, had also shot 118, missed five birds in the semifinals and was placed sixth.
The Results:
Men’s Trap: 1. Darius Chenai 13 (14) 116; 2. Raninder Singh 10 (14) 118; 3. Manavjit Singh Sandhu 12 (13) 117.; 4. Prithviraj Tondaiman 11 (12) 121; 5. Zoravar Singh Sandhu 11 (119); 6. Manavaditya Singh Rathore 10 (118).
Junior Men’s Trap: 1. Vishwa Kundu 11 (12) 112; 2. Kismat Chopra 10 (12) 116; 3. Adhiraj Singh Rahtore 11 (11)1 (115).; 4. Aman Ali Elahi 9 (11)1 (114); 5. Manavaditya Singh Rathore 11(0) 118; 6. Fahd Sultan 8 (113).
Veterans: 1. Wasi Hasnan 97; 2. G. Susheel 96; 3. Ranajit Nobis 93.
