By NNN-PTI,
Beijing : Marksman Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore completed the journey from ecstasy to agony in four years and the Athens Games silver medallist’s Beijing campaign wilted in the qualifying session itself at the Beijing Shooting Range here today.
The presence of gold medallist Abhinav Bindra was of no help as Rathore struggled to read targets and shot 131, which was just not enough to reach the business end of the event to stay in medal contention.
Top six shooters made it to the final event from the 19-man field, which had Rathore at 15th overall.
Rathore’s cook was goosed in the first round itself when he shot 43 before managing 45 in the second round.
An exceptional third round could have seen him through and Rathore started well too as he shot down the first eight pair of birds before running into a wretched stretch midway through the round threw his campaign in complete disarray.
“I did not read the targets too well and paid the price. I worked hard for the last four years but things just did not go my way today,” Rathore rued.
“I have not been in the best of form of late but I think my score was enough to reach the final at least. It was a difficult day but I shot well, in fact there were quite a few brilliant shots.