rudrankksh: Rudrankksh patil becomes second Indian shooter to win 10m air rifle gold at Worlds, secures Paris Olympics quota

Young Rudraksh Patil won a gold medal in the men’s 10m air rifle event at the ISSF World Championships here on Friday, becoming only the second Indian after the legendary Abhinav Bindra to achieve the feat. Patil also secured the 2024 Paris Olympic quota for the country in the process. This was India’s second Olympic quota.

The 18-year-old Rudrank made a brilliant comeback effort to beat Italy’s Danilo Denis Solazzo 17-13 in the gold medal match.

There are four quota spots available in Olympic events at this year’s World Championships.

India recently earned its first quota in the men’s trap event at the Shotgun World Championships in Croatia, courtesy of Bhaunish Mendiratta.

Rudraksh, who participated in his first World Championship, was trailing 4-10 to decide the top two in the new format in the gold medal match.

The Italian shooter held the lead for the majority of the finals but the Indian came back victorious.

Rudraksh topped the qualification and was assured of a quota after entering the gold medal match at the second place in the ranking round.

Beijing 2008 Olympic champion Bindra won World Championship gold in his pet 10m air rifle event in Zagreb, Croatia in 2006.

Originally published at Pen 18