India’s Ganemat Sekhon shot 70 out of 75 to end day one just a point outside the top eight, while veteran Mairaj Ahmad Khan endured another disappointing outing in the skeet competition at the ISSF World Cup Shotgun in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Monday.

The Chandigarh-based Sekhon, a silver medallist at this range three years ago, was the best-placed Indian, sitting ninth and in contention for a finals berth with 50 qualification targets and the finals scheduled for Tuesday.

In the men’s event, the 50-year-old Mairaj began with a 25 before slipping to 23 and 23, ending the day on 71 in 27th place.

Fellow Olympian Anantjeet Singh Naruka also opened with a perfect 25 but managed only 23 and 21 thereafter to total 69, extending his underwhelming run this season. Gurjoat Singh Khangura shot 22, 24 and 24 for an aggregate of 70, placing him at 33rd.

Among women, Raiza Dhillon shot 69 (22, 23, 24), while Parinaaz Dhaliwal managed 66 (22, 21, 23).

This is the second shotgun World Cup of the season, following the leg in Tangier last month, where Indian shooters failed to secure a medal in the crucial Asian Games year.