Picture Courtesy : Times of India
In a stunning show 16 – year-old Manu Bhaker (10m air pistol bagged the Gold medal . Manu Bhaker shattered two records en route to adding a CWG gold medal to her growing list of achievements in a nascent career, forcing Heena Sidhu to settle for a silver.
Appearing in his maiden CWG like Bhaker, Ravi Kumar (224.1) claimed the bronze medal in men’s 10m air rifle event after a shoot-off, while Saniya Sheikh was fourth in the women’s skeet finals with 32.
The Haryana-girl’s gold opened India’s CWG account in shooting. “It just happened, I only worked on my technique, rest just happened,” Bhaker said after winning.
In the table tennis women’s team event, Manika Batra put on inspiring show and powered India to a 3-1 victory over four-time gold medallists Singapore in the final.
World no. 58 Batra defeated world number four Feng Tianwei 3-2 (11-8, 8-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7) before brushing aside 100th-ranked Yihan Zhou 3-0 (11-7 11-4 11-7) to help India pull off a sensational win over a team, who have never lost in the CWG since the sport was inducted in the competition in 2002.
It was India’s second table tennis team gold at the Games with the men finishing on top at Melbourne in 2006.
In shooting, Jitu Rai won gold in the men’s 10m air pistol followed by bronze for Om Mitharval, and then came silver to teenager Mehuli Ghosh in the final of the women’s 10m air rifle event where defending champion Apurvi Chandela settled for bronze. In weightlifting, Pardeep Singh claimed silver in the 105kg final.
India is now placed third on the medals tally – 8 Gold, 7 Silver and 5 Bronze Medals – Total of 17
The top two places are held by Australia and England respectively . Australia – 33 Gold , Silver 26, Bronze 28 – Total – 87 medals . England – 19 Gold , 20 Silver and 12 Bronze – Total – 51 medals
