Air Pistol: India's Rai smiles - three world cup medals in 9 days

The young Indian talent Jitu Rai finished in the spotlights once again at the ISSF World Cup in Rifle and Pistol events in Maribor, pocketing his third medal in a row.

India's Jitu Rai is on fire. The 26-year old shooter won today's 10m Air Pistol Men event at the ISSF World Cup in Maribor, just two days after winning Silver at the 50m Pistol Men final, and just nine days after claiming a silver medal at the previous world cup stage in Munich on June 11.

Three world cup medals in less than ten days: Rai is currently holding the 26^t place in the world ranking, but he's definitely climbing it up fast. Today, he claimed his first international Gold ever with 200.8 points, leaving few chances to Spain's Pablo Carrera, who followed him in second place with 198.7 points, and Russia's Anton Gourianov, third with 177.2 points.

“I have not changed anything in my equipment or in my shooting technique. I am still training hard as always. I don't know what happened!” The Indian champion said, smiling when asked how he managed to finish on the podium three times in a row, while he had never made it to the medals the two seasons before.

Spain's Carrera, on the other hand, had walked into the match as one of the favorites. The 27-year old shooter finished twice on the podium in Munich, winning Gold at the 10m Air Pistol Men event and Bronze at the 50m Pistol Men final.

“My focus is on the world championship and on the Olympic Quota Places that will be assigned there.” Carrera said then. “Every world cup stage this year is part of my preparation for that.”