Beijing, Aug 9: India's Olympic campaign began on a disappointing note as shooters Anjali Bhagwat and Avneet Kaur Sidhu failed to qualify for the finals of the women's 10 meter Air Rifle event here on Saturday, Aug 9.

Anjali, with a total of 393 on 400, was 29th in the qualifying, while Avneet shot a score of 389 on 400 to finish at the 39th place. It was a major setback for India's nine-member shooting contingent on the very first day of the Games, but hopes haven't completely diminished as the two will again come back to participate in the 50m 3P event on August 13.

Meanwhile, Katerina Emmons of the Czech Republic shot a 400 on 400 to qualify in the first place and was near flawless in the final round to win the gold medal with a score of 503.5 - a new Olympic record.

Athens Olympics' silver medallist Lioubov Galkina of Russia won the silver medal with a score of 502.1 and Snjezana Pejcic of Croatia took bronze with 500.9.

With a billion hopes resting on their shoulders, country's finest shooters will hit the Beijing Shooting Range Hall later today as Manavjit Singh Sandhu and Mansher Singh feature in the men's trap qualifying.

Samaresh Jung, too, will be seen in action in men's 10m air pistol, hoping to get back his scintillating form that earned him the nickname of 'Goldfinger' in the Melbourne Commonwealth Games where he won seven medals, including five gold.


UNI