SPORTS

Indian shooters get cracking

Source:PTI
March 13, 2006 20:55 IST

Indian shooters continued to dominated the ranges, winning one gold and two silver medals on Monday in the Badge competitions ahead of the ensuing Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

India won a gold through Pemba Tamang and two silver medals from the efforts of Vijay Kumar and Harveen Srao in men's and women's events respectively.

Tamang captured the gold in the men's rapid fire pistol, scoring 585/600, to the delight of his team mates and coach Sunny Thomas.

"It was a very good effort. A similar score is good enough to earn a berth in the final of a World Cup event," said Thomas.

"It will take another solid effort from him to reproduce the score in the coming week," he said of Tamang, who had claimed the gold with an effort of 575/600 in the Australia Cup at the same venue last month.

Vijay Kumar, with a total of 572, claimed silver in the same event.

Harveen Srao, who was the women's air pistol gold medallist in the Australia Cup (389/500), performed a shade lower today and settled for the silver medal, tallying 380.

Anjali Bhagwat (572/600) and Anuja Jung (570/600) failed to finish among the medals in the women's 50m rifle 3-position event.

Though Anjali's performance remains a worry, the coach was hopeful of her getting back to her winning ways in the Games.

"I am hopeful of improved performance by them," Thomas said, adding that the Indians have settled down well and are raring to go.

India bagged 14 gold medals in shooting at the last edition in Manchester.

"We had competed at the same venue during last year's Commonwealth Championships and also at the Australia Cup last month. So we know the conditions pretty well," Thomas said.

However, he has already experienced the vagaries of the Australian weather first hand when a scorching Sunday was followed by a cool and rainy Monday.

"It was blazing hot yesterday, it's much better today," said Thomas.

Source: PTI
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