Trap shooters Bhowneesh, Kynan keep India in finals hunt at ISSF World Cup

Indian trap shooters Bhowneesh Mendiratta and Kynan Chenai made a promising start at the inaugural ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Tangier, Morocco, putting themselves firmly in contention for a place in the finals after an impressive opening day performance. Trap shooting , a sport where competitors aim at clay targets launched into the air, tested their precision and focus.

Competing in a strong field featuring Olympic champions and top international shooters, the two Indians delivered steady and composed performances in the men’s trap qualification rounds. After three rounds of 25 shots each, both Bhowneesh and Kynan finished with 72 out of 75 targets , placing them joint sixth alongside several others in the standings.

Bhowneesh showed clear improvement as the day progressed. He began with a score of 23 in the opening round , followed by 24 in the second , before finishing strongly with a perfect round of 25 to climb up the leaderboard.

Kynan, meanwhile, impressed with his remarkable consistency , recording three identical rounds of 24 to reach the same total of 72. His steady shooting ensured he remained well placed in what has turned out to be a tightly contested competition.

The qualification round is currently being led by Great Britain’s Nathan Hales , the Paris Olympics gold medallist and former world champion , who shot an impressive 74 out of 75 . Hales opened with a 24 before firing two flawless rounds of 25 to take the early lead. Interestingly, his former coach Peter Wilson is now working with the Indian team as its foreign coach and is accompanying the squad in Morocco.

India’s third shooter in the event, Olympian Prithviraj Tondaiman , had a disappointing outing, managing 65 out of 75 and finishing joint 62nd after the first three rounds.

Two more rounds of 25 targets each will decide the top eight shooters who advance to the finals . With the leaderboard closely contested, Bhowneesh and Kynan remain within reach of a finals berth.