The day-long Sheikh Russel International Air Rifle Championship 2020 was held Sunday with Bangladesh’s Abdullah Hel Baki bagging third place, while shooters from India and Japan emerged winners in the men’s and women’s event respectively.
Bangladesh Shooting Sport Federation organized the online competition for the first time to commemorate the birthday of Sheikh Russel, the youngest son of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
A total of 11 participants from six countries - India, Japan, Indonesia, Korea, Bhutan and Bangladesh - took part in the 60-shot event from their respective shooting range with cameras set on the venues to connect them virtually.
Baki, participating from the host venue at Gulshan Shooting Complex, scored 617.3 points out of a total of 654 to clinch third spot.
Olympian shooter Naoya Okada of Japan and Youth Olympics silver-medalist Shahu Tushar Mane of India became first and second scoring 630.9 and 623.8 respectively.
Young Indian shooter Elavenil Valarivan finished top in the women’s category with 627.5, followed by Shiori Hirata (622.6) of Japan and Vidya Rafika (621.1) of Indonesia.
Bangladesh’s Syeda Atkia Hasan Disha scored 616.4 to earn fifth position.
Earlier, one male and female shooter each from seven countries were expected to participate.
Pakistan signed up for the entry but their shooters didn’t turn up, while Bhutan enrolled only in men’s category.
It was the maiden online international shooting competition organized by the BSSF as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic.