Palembang
Deepak Kumar and Lakshay Sheoran, shooters with contrasting career paths, today made major breakthroughs by winning silver medals in the men’s 10m air rifle and men’s trap, respectively.

The 30-year-old Deepak did not mind the long wait for a major medal, 14 years after he picked up the sport.

Lakshay, on the other hand, picked up the gun only four years ago as a teenager, and at 20, he is a silver medallist at Asiad, equalling the feat achieved by former world champion Manavjit Singh Sandhu at the 2006 Doha edition. Veteran Sandhu also happened to be in the trap field today and was very much in the medal hunt until he missed five targets towards the end to finish fourth. With his father Somvir being a former national champion wrestler, it was no surprise that Lakshay rushed to touch Sandhu’s feet after the competition.

The trap final was won by Chinese Taipei’s Kunpi Yang, who shot a sensational 48 to equal the world record. Lakshay shot 43, while South Korean Daemyeong Ahn took the bronze with 30.

“Since childhood I liked guns. I used to try shooting with my father. But when I decided to pursue the sport seriously, he was not very sure about it. I am sure he is proud now,” said the shooter from Jind in Haryana.

Shotgun coach Mansher Singh said Lakshay was on the junior programme but was fast-tracked into the senior team. But fearing he would feel the pressure in a big event, Mansher kept him away from the crowd and Lakshay was only confined to his room.