Barely 16, Mampi Das seems on target for shooting glory

In the recently concluded trials for the Asian Air Gun Championship to be held in China next month, Mampi shot a perfect 400 out of 400

With her eyes shut, Mampi Das sat motionless on a chair in front of her lane at the Balewadi shooting range. She maintained her trance-like state for a good ten minutes before her event. "I was reviewing the procedures that I have to follow to shoot a perfect shot once I put my cheek to the rifle," she said. Das proceeded to shoot a remarkable 398 out of a possible 400, which put her in provisional first place in the standings of the 10m air rifle ahead of Saturday's final.

Das is only 16, but has already represented the senior Indian team at the ISSF World Championships in Milan and Munich in May. She has been in great form over the past month. In the recently concluded trials for the Asian Air Gun Championship, which will be held in China next month, Mampi shot a perfect 400 out of 400.

The teenager has been noted for her composure and her concentration and has managed to make quite a few heads turn. Former world-champion Anjali Bhagwat, who shot 397 out of 400 in the qualifiers, called Das an incredible talent. "Mampi is a very focused and hugely talented shooter. Her scores have been rising at every event and I think she has the potential to be one of India's best shooters," said Bhagwat.

Das said she was not intimidated by the prospect of coming up against seasoned shooters like Bhagwat and Tejaswini Muley in the final.

"I shot so well today because there was absolutely no pressure on me. I have always considered (World number two) Sonja Pfeilschifter as my closest rival and no one else," she said.

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