Day 5 brought more joy to the Indian Contingent and millions of Indian fans back home when Jitu Rai won gold in men’s 10m air pistol in Shooting competition at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games; Om Mitharval won bronze of the event.
The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Recipient, Jitu Rai, won gold setting up a new Commonwealth Games record as he shot a total of 235.1 after qualifying for the final in the fifth position, while compatriot Om Mitharval won Bronze after he shot a total of 214.3 at the Belmont Shooting Centre. Australia’s Kerry Bell won silver (233.5).
Rai, a former World No 1 and Commonwealth Games gold medalist in 50m air pistol event four years ago, led India to a medal tally of 15 wherein five medals are from Shooting and nine medals are from Weightlifting while Table Tennis contributed the other medal. India still are at the third place in the medal table with 8 Golds, 3 Silvers and 4 Bronze.
Speaking about the win, the honorable President of India, Mr. Ramnath Kovind wrote on microblogging site, twitter, “BANG ON TARGET ?…another double strike by our shooters at #GC2018!! @JituRai bags GOLD ?and Om Prakash Mitharval wins BRONZE ?in Men’s 10m Air Pistol..we are proud of you #PresidentKovind.”
Pardeep Singh wins Silver in Weightlifting
Pardeep Singh took forward the Indian juggernaut in Weightlifting as he clinched the silver medal in the men’s 105kg event at Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Pardeep, Commonwealth Championships Gold-medalist, lifted a total of 352kg in Snatch, and Clean and Jerk (152+200) to finish behind Sanele Mao of Samoa who lifted a combined weight of 360kg. Owen Boxall of England won Bronze medal of the event.
Speaking about his achievement, Cricketer Virender Sehwag wrote on twitter, “Congratulations to 23 year old Pradeep Singh for winning the silver in 105 kg weightlifting. Pradeep came so close to a gold but after a close contest had to settle for silver. But well done Pradeep!”
Mehuli Ghosh wins Silver in 10 M Air Rifle
Just when this report was under edit, in the 10M Air Rifle Women, defending Champion Apurvi Chandela and Child Prodigy Mehuli Ghosh took stage with the aim to increase the medal tally of India. While Apurvi Chandela lost her title in the event as she settled for a Bronze, Mehuli Ghosh took Silver on debut Commonwealth Games. Martina Lindsay Veloso of Singapore clinched Gold of the event.
It was a thrilling final with Mehuli and Veloso tied up at 247.2 at the end of final two shots, meaning a shoot-off between the two where Veloso hit a 10.3 against Mehuli’s 9.9 grabbing the brightest medal at display. Mehuli won bronze at the ISSF World Cup this year after she rocked the national shooting championships with a record eight-wicket haul.
With these two medals India are now at 17 overall medals with 8 Golds, 4 Silvers, 5 Bronze at the ongoing Commonwealth Games with the iconic Women Boxer Mary Kom already assured herself of a medal.