A junior world champion graduates to the big league

In a quality field that included world No.1 Han Jiayu and world No. 14 Huang Yuting, Ramita shot calmly to bag individual bronze

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At Delhi's Karni Singh Shooting Range two months back, as Indian rifle and pistol shooters went about their business, High Performance Director (HPD) Pierre Beauchamp took this reporter aside and pointed at a frail teenager quietly peppering the bull's eye. "Watch out for her. She is a special talent," Beauchamp said of Ramita Jindal.

At the Fuyang Yinhu Sports Centre range on Sunday, competing in her first Asian Games and into her second senior year, the youngster reposed the HPD's faith in style first combining with Mehuli Ghosh and Ashi Chouksey to win a team silver and then taking an individual bronze in the 10m air rifle range.

"I am very happy. I knew I would win something here to win two medals on the opening day of the competition is special," Ramita said.

Competing in a quality field that included world No.1 Han Jiayu, world No. 14 Huang Yuting, and World Championships bronze medallist Ghosh, Ramita shot with admirable calm and precision. She qualified in the eight-woman final with the second-highest score in the qualification (631.9) behind local favourite Jiayu who shot a qualifying meet and Asian record (634.1).