Top 18 to shoot at NSSF Trap Open today
Young shooter Anitra Dharmaratne in action
The NSSF Trap Open Championship 2021 will come to end today at the Clay Target Shooting Club of Colombo’s Shotgun Range in Payagala, Kalutara with two rounds to be completed to determine the winners.
Out of a total of 65 shooters, who competed in three rounds of 25 shots each, the Top 18 shooters were selected by yesterday. They will fire three more rounds each from where each shooter will have to fire 25 shots each, beginning from 8.00am. The top six shooters will contest in the final round beginning from 12.00noon. The top three finishers will emerge the overall winners according to the final standings.
The shooters to reach the Top 18 stage are Ambrith Samaranayake, Jeremy Fernando, Lakshan Hettiarachchi, Johann Fernando, Sean Silva, Muditha Samaranayake, Dallas Martenstyn, Anil Peries, Nivantha Waas, Dilanjan Jayasooriya, Dulan Dharmaratne, Andrew Subasinghe, Maurice Wambeek, Shehan Patterson, Nalinda Ranasinghe, Mohamed Fahim, Lasitha Perera and Rishan Dias.
However, according to confirmed reports received by the National Shooting Sport Federation of Sri Lanka (NSSF) Lasitha Perera will not be taking part in the Top 18 today due to unavoidable circumstances, and his place will be given to Nihal Perera, who will automatically qualify after achieving a qualifying score of 26.
Minister Johnston Fernando in action
The winners of the Open and Master categories will be determined after the completion of the Top 18 round.
Meanwhile, young Anitra Dharmaratne became the first to compete in the Youth Female category in the history of shotgun sports in Sri Lanka. She has already completed her three rounds and was the sole competitor of this category.
In addition Negombo Rifle Shooting Club (NRC) ‘A’ earned enough points to top the Team category with Muditha Samaranayake, Ambrith Samaranayaka and Nihal Perera taking their team to the pinnacle. The Clay Target Shooting Club of Colombo ‘A’ team, represented by Maurice Wambeek, Anil Peries and Lakshan Hettiarachchi, helped their team to earn the second slot, while the NRC Clay Dusters, represented by Dallas Martenstyn, Sean Silva and Rishan Dias, are occupying the third position.
Held under the leadership of Shirantha Peiris and purview of experts Mohan Gilbert as Match Director and Dinesh Lionel as Range Master, the Trap Open 2021 is NSSF’s second event of its calendar for 2021, which consists of 11 local meets.