By Hardev Sanotra
Rio de Janeiro, Aug 6 (IANS) "I don't know what happened, my mind has totally gone blank," said Apurvi Chandela after getting eliminated in the 10 metre air rifle competition for women here at the Olympic Shooting Centre.
"Of course when I came in this morning, I expected to win. Who doesn't," a visibly crestfallen Chandela told IANS before proceeding to see the finals of the competition with her physio Nikhil Ajit Latey, which was won by Virginia Thrasher of the US with a score of 208.
Apurvi had won the gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Her other colleague Ayonika Paul had won the silver at the competition. Paul, who too watched the finals from the rear gallery, did not want to comment.
Apurvi was placed at the 34th position with a combined score of 411.6 while Ayonika was 43rd with 407 among 53 shooters at the Olympic Shooting Centre.
In the 10m air rifle, Du Li came second with a final score of 207 and her compatriot Yi Siling got the bronze with a score of 185.4.
(Hardev Sanotra can be reached at hardev.sanotra@ians.in)
