Munich World Cup: Parth Mane shines briefly before settling for seventh

PUNE: Indian shooters failed to make the podium on the opening day of the Munich World Cup on Tuesday. Parth Mane came up with the best show as he finished 7th in the men’s 10m air rifle final but none of his teammates could make it to the top-8 in the qualification rounds.Mane started the final well with a 10.8 in the first shot and then in the fifth. He was placed fourth after the first five shots but a couple of 9s pulled him down to eighth position after 10 shots. He escaped the first elimination after 12 shots, but couldn't survive longer and finished 7th with a score of 145.8. China’s Changhong Zhang won gold with 253.7, while Korea’s Shin Minky took silver (252.7), and Paris Games silver medallist Viktor Lindgren won bronze with 231.In the qualification round, shooting in the Ranking Points Only (RPO), Himanshu Dhillon was the best Indian with a score of 635.7. However, he was not eligible for the medal round. Mane qualified for the final with a score of 633.6, while his teammates, Shahu Mane (630.5) was 25th and Paris Games fourth finisher Arjun Babuta was placed 63rd with a score of 627.5. Paris Games gold medallist Sheng Lihao (629.5) was placed 34th, while Paris bronze winner Miran Maricic (631.1) also failed to qualify after finishing 19th. In the men’s pistol event, no Indian could qualify for the final. Teenager Jonathan Antony was the best placed with an impressive score of 585. World Champion Samrat Rana was placed 14th with a score of 582.