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| Source: Jonathan Selvaraj |
Teenager Parth Mane Secures 10m Air Rifle Gold at National Games
Dominant Performance in the Final
Parth Mane, a world junior champion, showcased his exceptional skills to claim the gold medal in the men’s 10m air rifle event at the 38th National Games. Competing against his Maharashtra teammate Rudranksh Patil, Mane ensured a remarkable 1-2 finish for their state. The bronze medal was secured by Services’ shooter Kiran Jadhav.
At just 17 years old, Mane demonstrated remarkable composure, maintaining the lead in all but one of the series. Despite facing seasoned competitors, he remained steady throughout the final. Even after recording scores of 9.9 and 10.0 on his 12th and 14th shots, he quickly regained momentum. Six of his last ten shots registered 10.7 points or higher, reflecting his consistency under pressure.
Fierce Competition with Rudranksh Patil
Mane faced stiff competition from Rudranksh, who trailed him by just 0.6 points after 20 shots. However, he held his nerve, responding with precision. While Rudranksh tallied 42.2 points in his final four shots, Mane edged ahead with 42.4 points, including impressive rounds of 10.8 and 10.7.
His final score of 252.6 points surpassed the mark required to win gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics by 0.4 points, highlighting the promising future ahead for the young shooter.
Notable Performances from Other Shooters
While Mane maintained his dominance throughout the final, Rudranksh’s performance in the elimination round also stood out. The talented shooter had previously secured an Olympic quota for India by clinching the World Championship title in 2022.
Meanwhile, Punjab’s Arjun Babuta, who was in contention for a top-three finish after 16 shots, fell behind due to a couple of 10.4s, eventually finishing in fourth place. Jadhav, who was initially in fourth position, secured his podium finish with a crucial 10.8 under pressure on the 20th shot, edging past a Paris 2024 Olympian.
Delhi’s Paarth Makhija, who placed fourth in qualification, ended up in fifth place, while Services’ Sandeep Singh, a 2024 Olympian, finished in sixth. Assam’s Hriday Hazarika, a former World Junior Champion from 2018, had an opportunity to capitalize when Sandeep registered a 9.8 early in the eliminations but was unable to take full advantage.
Bright Future Ahead for Parth Mane
Mane’s stellar performance at the National Games underscores his potential to shine on the international stage and cements his status as one of India’s rising shooting stars.
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