Ashi-Swapnil Shines in 3-Position Shooting in Olympic Selection Trials

At the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in the nation’s capital, Ashi Choksey and Swapnil Kusale emerged victorious in their respective 50M Rifle 3 Positions (3P) fields of five for women and men, respectively, to secure the qualification title on the fifth day of the ongoing Olympic Selection Trials (OST) Rifle/Pistol.

In the women’s 3P OST T, Ashi shot an incredible 590 to take first place, surpassing the world record-holder Sift Kaur Samra’s 583.

With 581 points, Tokyo Olympian Anjum Moudgil finished third, while Paris quota holder Shriyanka Sadangi followed in fourth with 575 points. While Nishchal’s score was identical to Shriyanka’s, she lacked in the inner tens.

Ashi Chouksey made news last year when she won a silver medal in the Hangzhou Asian Games women’s 10-meter air rifle team competition. In the women’s 50-meter rifle three positions competition, she not only took home a silver medal but also a bronze one.

Ashi, a native of Bhopal, was born on July 3rd, 2002, and has devoted her professional life to photography. The MP State Shooting Academy in Bhopal serves as her training ground.

In the men’s 3P, which had a closer finish, Swapnil prevailed with two outstanding 199s in the first kneeling and Prone positions, finishing with 592. Despite posting a flawless 200 in prone, Akhil Sheoran finished third with 589, behind veteran army small bore specialist Chain Singh in second place with 591.

Aishwary Tomar and Niraj Kumar finished last in that field, with scores of 576 and 579, respectively. The Indian trio of Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Swapnil Kusale, and Akhil Sheoran made history last year at the Asian Games by breaking the world record and winning a team gold medal in the men’s 50-meter rifle event. Swapnil, too had an incredible performance. This Wednesday is the day for the finals.