Shrikrishna defends fifth title

In the 150 up best of 9 format, Shrikrishna won the final by defeating 26-time state champion Prem Prakash by 5-1.  Shrikrishna started the match with a phenomenal  break of 150 to clinch the first frame. 

In the second frame Prem fought back with a 63 break, but Shrikrishna replied with a break of 71 and stole the frame. Prem retaliated in the third frame with breaks of 77 and 71 to win the frame, but Shrikrishna managed to keep the two frame lead as he clinched the next frame for 3-1. 

Shrikrishna powered ahead in the fifth frame with a break of 120 to make it 4-1. Shrikrishna sealed the match in the sixth frame as he utilized the opportunities he got. After reaching the final, this is the first time ever that Pram has lost in it. 

In the semi finals, Shrikrishna defeated G Prabhu 4-1 with astounding breaks of 143 and 104 in the match. Prem defeated Vijay Nichani in the deciding frame by 4-3, Prem capitalized on the chances he got in the final frame to clinch the match.

Gagan Narang’s affirmative initiative ‘Project Leap’ has taken another step towards grooming shooting champions for India by joining hands with Centre for Sports Science (CSS) to give intensive coaching and training to the 12 prodigious young rifle shooters who had been earlier selected from different parts of the country. 

The camp for the shooters began at the Sri Ramachandra University in Chennai on Thursday and is part of his holistic plan to modernize coaching and shooting techniques within  the country. 

“CSS is one of the most advanced sports science and sports medicine support centre in the country. They have the aptitude and resources to offer the most modern facilities & infrastructure to our youngsters and this was a logical partnership,” Gagan, a Khel Ratna and an Olympic  medallist, said. 

Gagan Narang Sports Promotion Foundation (GNSPF) hopes to create a path-breaking system along with CSS to train India’s talented athletes and mould them into world-class champions. 

Slovakian Coach Anton Belak, who was instrumental in helping Slovakia get their first shooting medal in 1996, will continue to work with these 12 young shooters who are also going to be part of the upcoming national championship. 

GNSPF has already started showing results, with shooters like Pooja Ghatkar, Apurvi Chandela, Heena Sidhu, Rahi Sarnobat and Rubina Francis from his stable making *their mark at the international level and Project Leap is showing results with shooters like Swaroop Unhalkar, Anushka Patil and Mahima Turhi Agarwal already  representing India.