10m Air Rifle Men – Narang (IND) shot two records to win gold
Gagan NARANG shot two different records to win today’s 10m Air Rifle Men event at the 2008 ISSF World Cup Final. First, the 25-year old Indian shooter entered the final round with an equalled world record, and then he raised the limits of the sport by setting a new Final World Record.
Gagan NARANG of India shot a record match at today’s 10m Air Rifle Men final, winning Gold with a full point of advantage on his followers. NARANG, who had won the 2005 Asian Championships on the lines of this shooting range of Bangkok, entered today’s final match with a qualification score of 600 points, the perfection, equalling the current World Record set in 2000 by the Thai shooter Tavarit MAJCHACHEEP.
Managing his lead throughout the ten final shots, the 25-year old NARANG fired 103.5 points in the final, totalizing 703.5 points and setting a new Final World Record that shattered the previous record of 703.1 points held by the Austrian marksman Thomas FARNIK since the 2006 World Cup Final of Granada.
“It is great to be here and to win this ISSF World Cup Final with a record score. I had shot this score more then once, back home, but I really wanted to officially fire it in an international competition – said Gagan NARANG after the final round – It is definitely a good moment for the Indian shooting team. I will concentrate also on the other Olympic rifle events, trying to reach next year’s ISSF Final in more then one!”
The 27-year old American champion Matthew EMMONS won Silver, finishing in second with 702.5 points. EMMONS, starting with 598 points, shot the highest score of today’s final round (104.5 points) to climb up from the fifth positions he had after the qualifications. By winning this Silver, the American shooter earned his third medal in this ISSF World Cup Final. He had indeed already won Silver at the 50m Rifle Prone Men final held two days ago and Gold at yesterday’s 50m Rifle Three Positions Men event.
To finish in second place, EMMONS overtook the 2004 Olympic Champion and Silver medallist of the 2008 Games of Beijing ZHU Qinan, from China. ZHU, who had won the last 2007 World Cup Final edition, finished in third place with 702.3 points, preceding Beijing’s Bronze medallist Henri HAKKINEN of Finland, fourth with 701.9 points.
