Bangladesh’s Robiul Islam finished 15th in the men’s 10m air rifle qualification at the Asian Shooting Championships in New Delhi on Friday, missing out on a place in the final, reports Daily Sun.
Robiul scored 622.4 points, which left him 2.4 points behind the eighth and final qualifying position. India’s Vishal Singh claimed that spot with a score of 624.6. A total of 22 shooters competed in the event, with only the top eight advancing to the final.
India’s Babasaheb Rudraksh dominated the qualification round, finishing first with 632.1, while Kazakhstan’s Nikita Shakhtorin placed second with 629.2 and Korian Woorim Kim placed third with 629.1.
The result was below Robiul’s usual standard, as the Bangladeshi shooter is known for consistently scoring between 627 and 628 in practice and national competitions. He also has a strong international record, having scored 624.2 at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and an impressive 629.2 at the 2023 World Championships in Baku.
According to his coach, Sharmin Akter, the lack of international exposure played a significant role in the outcome. “This tournament marks Robiul’s return to international shooting after the Paris Olympics,” she said. “He has been away from international competition for more than one and a half years, so some impact was inevitable.”
Robiul had only three weeks of preparation before the Asian Championships, which further affected his performance.
Bangladesh has previously sent multiple shooters to the Asian Shooting Championships, but this year only Robiul represented the country. Despite the early exit, the coaching staff believes regular competition and longer preparation will help him return to his best form in upcoming events.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
