Bindra draws blank in tough opening day for Indian shooters

Ace marksman Abhinav Bindra belied expectations after failing to qualify for the finals of men's 10 air rifle event in the 51st ISSF World Championships, his hopes of earning an Olympic quota in this tournament going up in smoke.

The 2008 Beijing Olympic gold medallist missed the cut as he finished 10th in qualification relay 1. He shot a series of 103.5 104.1 104.9 103.9, 104.0 104.4 to total 624.8.

Jitu Rai kept himself in the hunt with a score of 557 in men's 50-metre pistol. The World Cup and Commonwealth Games gold medallist had a sequence of 94 94 93 90 95 91 to be placed 3rd in qualification relay 2.

In men's trap event, the experienced Manavjit Singh Sandhu, also a World Cup winner, recorded scores of 25 each to total 50. The remaining three rounds will be held on Tuesday at the CEAR Juan Carlos I shooting range. Kynan Chenai had rounds of 23 each to score 46.

In men's 10-metre air rifle, besides Bindra, Sanjeev Rajput finished 13 with a score of 624.2 while Ravi Kumar was placed a lowly 31st after shooting 616.2.

In men's 50-metre pistol, besides Jitu, Gurpal Singh was placed 14th after managing 554 while Om Prakash was 21st with a total of 549. The trio was placed fifth in the team standings.

In trap junior, Manavaditya Singh Rathore was 40th while Abhay Singh Rathore too was way behind at 63rd.

A total of 64 quota places for the 2016 Olympic Games is up for grabs in the tough continental tournament, heralding the beginning of the long and arduous journey to Rio de Janerio.

Over 2000 athletes from around 100 countries are gunning for top honours in more than 50 events.

Image: Abhinav Bindra

Photograph: Graham Crouch/Getty Images