Beijing: Fresh from Commonwealth glory, Indian shooter Gagan Narang on Monday upset China's Liu Tianyou to register his first-ever World Cup victory in 10 metre air rifle event in Guangzhou.
Writing a dark horse story in the first final of the 2006 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup rifle and pistol championship, the Indian ensured he carried his form in Melbourne to this prestigious event.
Narang collected 597 points in the qualification round and 103.2 in the final, overcoming stiff competition from the local favourite.
"Before I came to the World Cup, I was not very sure that I could win," said Narang, wearing a garland in his neck.
"So I am very happy now. It is my first win in a World Cup event."
Liu took the silver with 699.6 points while Russia's Artem Khadjibekov, the gold medallist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, grabbed the bronze medal with 699.1 points.
Five marksmen entered the final with the same qualification score of 597.
However, it was Narang who led for most of the 10-shot final, Xinhua news agency reported from Guangzhou, Capital of the southern Chinese province of Guangdong.
With a fabulous last shot worth 10.8 points, the 2005 Asian champion secured his second international victory this year with an advantage of 0.6 points together with an Olympic quota place for India.
"I am extremely happy to win the first Olympic berth for my country," said a beaming Narang, who started his international career in 2002.
"But I am not sure if I will have a chance to compete at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
"Anyway, I am in pretty good form now. My next aim is the World Championships and the Asian Games," he added.
The seven-day World Cup in Guangzhou was the first shooting World Cup of the year with ten berths for the Beijing Olympics at stake from ten rifle and pistol events.
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