Varun Tomar Triumphs with Double Gold at National Shooting Championship

Varun Tomar claimed both senior and junior men's 10m air pistol titles at the National Shooting Championship in New Delhi. Overcoming early setbacks, he edged out his competition by excelling in crucial moments. Key victories solidified his status, contributing to his team's impressive overall performance in the tournament.

In a remarkable display of skill and composure, reigning Asian champion Varun Tomar secured both the senior and junior men's 10m air pistol titles at the 67th National Shooting Championship Competitions (NSCC). Hosted at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in the nation's capital, the 21-year-old Army marksman shone brightly, demonstrating his prowess in crucial moments.

Despite a sluggish start in the senior final, Varun dramatically clinched his first national title, edging out his teammate Pradhyumn Singh by a narrow margin of just 0.8 points. Rajasthan's contender, Aakash Bhardwaj, claimed the bronze medal. Not long after, Varun replicated his triumph in the junior final, overcoming a slow initial phase to eventually outpace silver medalist Nikhil Saroha from Uttar Pradesh after the 21st shot.

Chirag Sharma led a UP-dominated youth final, defeating 14-year-old standout Dev Pratap by 1.3 points after 24 rounds. The medal tally saw Haryana, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra taking the top spots with 23, 22, and 13 gold medals respectively, underscoring their presence in the national pistol events.

(With inputs from agencies.)