Published on 27 Jul 2006
Sandhu comes from behind to win it all
Sara John
India’s Manavjit Sandhu made a run in the final round of men’s trap, to move from sixth to the top of the medal stand, today, at the Luze shooting range. This is Sandhu’s sixth World Championship and the only one in which he has medaled.
“It has been 12 years of hard work,” Sandhu said. “I’ve been shooting really well this season and I am really happy to be able to win the World Championship. I knew all I had to do was make the final and anything could happen. Once other people started missing, I knew it was a matter of keeping my rhythm and just doing what I do best.” Sandhu actually had a shoot-off to make the final. But once he was in, he only missed three targets, shooting a final-high 22 and finishing with a total 143. Italy’s Erminio Frasca was another shooter who had to shoot-off to make the final. He went in with a 121 qualifying score, and hit a 21 to find himself in another shoot-off, this time with USA’s Bret Erickson. Frasca ended up winning that shoot-off 4-3, and taking the silver medal. Erickson finished with a 122 qualifying score and a 20 in the final to win the bronze. Italy’s Giovanni Pellielo took fourth with a 141 (122 qualifying, 19 final) total score. Karsten Bindrich, of Germany, finished in fifth, shooting a 121 qualifying and an 18 in the final. Bindrich ended up tied with Pavel Gurkin, of Russia, who initially walked into the final in first, but shot a 16 to fall to sixth. Bindrich won the shoot-off 5-4.