Niraj Kumar shot 346.5 to win bronze in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions. India’s Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar finished fifth with a score of 323.7 points

India’s Niraj Kumar stayed focused in the eight-shooter final to clinch bronze medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions and LA208 Olympic Games quota place at the ISSF World Championship in Doha on Wednesday. The ISSF World Championship in Doha is the first Los Angeles Olympic Games qualification event in shooting. India won two LA28 quota places in Doha. One each in men’s 10m air pistol and men’s 50m rifle 3 positions.

Niraj Kumar topped the qualification with a score of 591/600. Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar shot 586 in the qualification to finish fourth. Top eight in the qualification enter the medal round.

In the final Dmitrii Pimenov (Neutral Athlete) won the gold medal with a record-breaking performance (world junior record) of 362.8 points. Slovakia’s Patrik Jany took home silver with a score of 357.2. India’s Niraj Kumar claimed bronze with 346.5 points.

Since Patrik Jany has already won a LA28 quota place in men’s 10m air rifle, as per rule he can’t avail another quota place. Norway’s Jon-Hermann Hegg, winner of fourth place with a score of 335.9 points and next eligible shooter was allotted the third quota place.

India’s Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar finished fifth with 323.7 points. Croatia’s Petar Gorsa finished sixth (313.0), France’s Romain Aufrere (302.1) was seventh and Switzerland’s Jan Lochbihler (300.8) finished eighth.

EOM