'IT TOOK TIME TO SINK IN'

RUDRANKKSH LEAVES WORLD'S TOP SHOOTERS IN HIS WAKE

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Rudrankksh, lovingly known as Sai at home, is the eldest child of Balasaheb Patil, SP Palghar. His mother, Hemangini, is a regional transport officer at Vashi in Navi Mumbai. With that kind of background, rigour and discipline are qualities that have been imbibed well. During meets, Hemangini monitors his diet and keeps an eye on his practice schedules.

On Friday, he defeated Italy's Danilo Dennis Sollazzo 1713 in the final of 10m air rifle competition of World Championships in Cairo. In the ranking round, he left behind former world champ and Tokyo bronze medallist from China, Yang Haoran and Tokyo silver medallist Lihao Sheng. Tokyo gold medallist William Shaner of USA couldn't make it to the top8.

Rudrankksh qualified for the top-8 after shooting 633.9, a World Championships record.

As per the new rules, the international shooting body ISSF has done away with world records. They now have venues, World Championships and Olympics records instead.