Rio Olympics (shooting): India's flop show ends with another debacle

Rio de Janeiro: Indian shooters’ flop show in the Olympics concluded here on Sunday morning with two highly unforgettable performances by Gagan Narang and armyman Chain Singh in the 50m rifle 3 position qualifying round. This is the first time since 2004 Athens Olympics that Indian shooters are returning home without a medal. Chain Singh ended 26^th with a total of 1162 points while London Olympic Bronze medalist Gagan Narang shot a total of 1164 to be placed 33rd in the field of 44 shooters. In kneeling, Chain shot 98, 95, 99, 99 for a total of 391. His series in prone was 100, 100, 100, 98 (398) and in standing, he shot 95, 94, 96, 95 (380). Gagan had poor kneeling series as he shot 97, 97, 96, 93 (383). In prone, he improved a bit with 99, 99, 99, 98 (395) and in standing, he shot 98, 93, 95, 98 (386). In 2004 at Athens, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore had won a silver. In 2008 at Beijing, Abhinav Bindra   scripted a history by winning a gold and in 2012 at London, Vijay Kumar won a silver and Gagan Narang a bronze. This time the Indian shooting squad had 12 members, the highest ever for the Olympics, and yet they ended without a single medal.