India’s sharpshooting trio of Bhavtegh Singh Gill, Mairaj Ahmad Khan, and Ganemat Sekhon kept the tricolour flying high on Day 2 of the ISSF World Cup (Shotgun) in Lonato, delivering gritty performances in the highly competitive skeet qualifiers.
Bhavtegh displayed clinical precision, firing three flawless 25s out of four rounds to end the day with a tally of 98. Not far behind was Olympian Mairaj Ahmad Khan, matching Bhavtegh’s score with a similar mix of 24s and 25s across his four attempts. Both men now sit in a congested cluster of 16 shooters tied at 98, with only six spots available in the final, setting the stage for a fierce final qualifier.
In the women’s event, Ganemat Sekhon stayed calm under pressure. The young ace registered two back-to-back 24s on Tuesday, raising her total to 96 and climbing into a provisional eighth place. With five other shooters locked at the same score, including Sweden’s Victoria Larsson, the battle for final qualification is expected to go down to the wire.
Meanwhile, experienced names like Maheshwari Chauhan and Raiza Dhillon posted rounds that kept them in the middle of the pack. Maheshwari ended with 96, echoing Ganemat’s score, while Raiza signed off with 93.
With the final qualifying rounds scheduled later today, Indian hopes hinge on precision under pressure. The finals for both men’s and women’s skeet events will follow, promising high-voltage action.
