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India bag two gold in Commonwealth shooting

March 11, 2005 21:06 IST

India began their campaign with a bang in the Commonwealth Shooting Championships at Melbourne, winning five medals including two gold.

India won both the men's and women's team gold in the air rifle event, bagged two silver medals in the women's sport pistol team and the men's trap team as also picked a bronze in the free pistol team competition.

Leading India's charge was former World Cup winner and ace shooter Anjali Vedpathak-Bhagwat (394) and Pournima Zanane (391), who together aggregated 785/800 to win the women's air rifle team gold, a National Rifle Association of India statement said on Friday.

Singapore (778) and England (777) won the silver and bronze respectively.

The gold-winning men's team comprised Gagan Narang (592) and Manoj Kumar (591), who tallied 1183/1200 to leave behind Singapore (1167) and hosts Australia (1161) in second and third places respectively.

In the women's sport pistol, Sushma Rana (570) and Shweta Chaudhary (568) totalled 1138/1200 to finish second behind Australia (1162). Malaysia (1127) ended up third.

India's second silver of the day went to the men's trap team, comprising Manavjit Singh (97) and Zorawar Singh (95), whose score added up to 192/200. Australia (194) won the gold and Wales (190) the bronze.

India's lone bronze medal went to Samresh Jung (559) and Mahavir Singh (506), in the men's free piston team (1082). They finished behind Australia (1082) and England (1065).