Thaindian News

Pune, Oct 13 (IANS) India opened their account with two golds in shooting and one in weightlifting in the Commonwealth Youth Games here Monday.Ankush Bhardwaj won gold in men’s 50m pistol event with 509 points while Rahi Sarnobat topped the women’s 25m pistol event with a score of 748.1 points.

In weightlifting, Diksha Gaikwad won the women’s 48 kg event. Shiv Shankar Singh clinched silver in the men’s 56 kg category.

Sarnobat, 18-year-old from Kolhapur, was tied in the qualification round with Binti Azahari Alia Sazana of Malaysia at 550 points. But, she improved her tally in the final round with consistent accuracy. Binti won the Silver with 742.9 points whereas Hayley Chapman of Australia won bronze with 729.3 points.

Ankush scored 509 points in the men’s 50m pistol event to win gold as his only competitor Murray Middleton of Falkland Islands did not finish his final round. No silver and bronze medals were awarded in this category.

India could have added another medal but Paul Ayonika, who was in contention for bronze in the 10 metre air-rifle event, had to settle for the fourth position (491.7 points).

Singapore’s Sudhir Binte Aqilah won the gold with 501.0 points. Silver and bronze went to Monica Fyfe of Canada (496.1 points) and Abdul Hali Nur Ayuni Farhana of Malaysia (492.2 points).