2018 Asian Games: India's Lakshay Sheoran wins trap silver

Palembang, August 20: Teenage sensation Lakshay Sheoran added to India's ever-swelling medals tally by clinching silver in the trap shooting event at the 2018 Asian Games currently underway in Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Palembang.

Lakshay became just the third Indian after Karni Singh (1974) and Manavjit Singh Sandhu (2006) to win the men's trap silver at the Asian Games.

At the Jakabaring International Shooting Range in Palembang on Monday (August 20), the 19-year-old aggregated 43 in the gold-medal match.

Chinese Taipei's Yang Kunpei won the gold with a Games-equalling score of 48 while Japan's Daemyeong Ahn settled for bronze with 30. India's Manavjit Singh Sandhu missed out on a podium finish as he ended up fourth with a score of 26.

This is India's fourth medal of the quadrennial extravaganza, third from the shooting range and second of the day.

ASIAN GAMES SPECIAL PAGE

Earlier, Ravi Kumar and Apurvi Chandela had clinched the bronze medal in the 10M mixed air rifle event to open India's account on the first day of the competition.

Later, Deepak Kumar added to the tally by winning silver in the Men's 10m Air Rifle event.

Lakshay, a product of Sports Authority of India's Sonepat Centre of Excellence, was making his Asian Games debut and Twitterrati was in awe of his performance.

The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) athlete had started his shooting career just four years back.

Minister of State Youth Affairs and Sports and 2004 Athens Olympics silver medallist Rajyavardhan Rathore congratulated Sheoran on his achievement.

"19 yr old shooter Lakshya Sheoran on his #AsianGames debut has shown impeccable concentration to win silver medal in Men's Trap Shooting at #AsianGames2018. Young champions like Lakshya r the torchbearers of our sporting future. Take a bow young champ!," he tweeted.

Lakshay, who has competed in many World Championships at the junior level, kept his cool to produce a perfect 5/5 when only the top three contenders were left to assure himself of a silver medal as India continued its impressive performance in the shooting range from where more medals are expected.

With his father Somvir being a former national champion wrestler, it was no surprise that Lakshay rushed to touch Sandhu's feet right after the competition was over.