Youth prevailed over experience as Lakshay Sheoran won the silver medal having shot 39 out of 45, while Taipei's Kunpi Yang won gold (48) and Korea's Daemyeong Ahn took bronze with a score of 30
India's trap shooter Lakshay Sheoran poses with his silver medal at Palembang yesterday. Pic/PTI
It was a case of youth versus experience for India in the men's final of the trap shooting event at the Asian Games in Palembang yesterday as teenager Lakshay Sheoran, 19, was up against veteran Manavjit Singh Sandhu, 41, among other finalists, in the summit clash. And eventually, youth prevailed as Lakshay won the silver medal having shot 39 out of 45, while Taipei's Kunpi Yang won gold (48) and Korea's Daemyeong Ahn took bronze with a score of 30.
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Interestingly, Manavjit had topped the qualification, so Lakshay was always playing catch up thereafter, and it's this fightback from the youngster that has impressed national shotgun coach and former India trap shooter Mansher Singh. "This one went down to the wire — even the qualification was tough — and Lakshay is only in the initial phase of his first year in the senior shooting scene. "So, for him to shoot under so much pressure at such a big stage like the Asian Games, is a brilliant effort. The boy shot like a pro," a jubilant Mansher told mid-day here yesterday.
Mansher Singh
The four-time Olympian knows just how the nitty gritties of international competition can distract a shooter and that's why he hailed young Lakshay's calm mind. "Lakshay may be a young boy but this performance proves that he has huge potential and a very cool head on his shoulders. "In trap shooting, it's always tougher [than rifle or pistol shooting] because it is outdoors, so you have to adjust to the conditions. "Every country offers different shooting conditions, but Lakshay did brilliantly to adjust to everything around him. "The plan here was to first make the final and then take it from there. He was determined and focused and I'm so proud of what he has achieved here."
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