Commonwealth Games 2018 : Jitu Rai gets India’s 8th gold.
After a super Sunday at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, Indian athletes continued to rake in medals on Day 5.
Indian shooting ace Jitu Rai claimed the gold medal in the men’s 10m air pistol event by creating a new games record while compatriot Om Prakash Mitharval bagged a bronze at the 21st Commonwealth Games on Monday.
Rai, who was the silver medallist at the World Championship, shot 235.1 to comfortably finish top of the podium.
Mitharval, who had established a new qualification record with 584, eventually finished with the bronze medal after aggregating 214.3 in the eight-man finals at the Belmont Shooting Centre.
Australia’s Kerry Bell managed to secure the silver medal with 233.5.
In the finals, Jitu led with 100.4 at the end of stage 1, while Mitharval was third with 98.1.
In stage 2 elimination, Rai started with 10.3 and 10.3 to lead the pecking order, even as his compatriot moved up and displaced Bell at second place with two 10.1s. Championship
Rai continued to surge ahead with a 10.2 but an 8.4 disturbed his momentum somewhat, as the next shot fetched him 9.2.
Meanwhile, Mitharval closed the gap as Rai had just 8.8 in the 18th shot to Mitharval’s 10.0.
However, Mitharval slipped after that even as Rai managed another 10.0 and maintained the lead throughout to emerge triumphant.
On Sunday, the Indian women were on fire as the country added gold, silver and bronze medals in weightlifting, shooting and table tennis.
Manu Bhaker, Heena Sidhu, Vikas Thakur, Punam Yadav, Manika Batra, Mouma Das, Madhurika Patkar and Venkat Rahul Ragala were among the medal winners for India on Sunday.
From cricketing great Sachin Tendulkar to President Ram Nath Kovind, congratulatory messages poured in for the Indian athletes from all corners.
On Day 5 of the Games, India has a lot to look forward to. Indian athletes will be in action in badminton,lawn bowls, table tennis, boxing and athletics.
