Another day, another success story. Shooter Jitu Rai started India’s day five of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games by winning the gold in men’s 10m air pistol event. Jitu set up a new CWG record while securing the gold for India. His compatriot Om Mitharval bagged bronze medal.
17-year-old shooter Mehuli Ghosh grabbed a silver medal in women’s 10m Air Rifle event. Mehuli’s experienced compatriot Apurvi Chandela won bronze. Adding to India’s medal tally, weightlifter Pardeep Singh won silver medal in men’s 105kg category.
Jitu Rai is a former CWG gold medalist, winning the gold in 50m air pistol event four years ago in Glasgow. He shot a total of 235.1 while compatriot Mitharval shot a total of 214.3. Australia’s Kerry Bell won silver (233.5).
Mehuli shot a commendable 247.2 and tied with ML Veloso of Singapore, while Apurvi settled for bronze with 225.3 points. Pardeep Singh continued the spectacular run of Indian weightlifters by winning the silver medal in men’s 105 kg weight category. Pardeep accomplished this feat by lifting a total of 352 kg.
Pardeep missed out the gold medal with a slight difference. Due to the failure of two clean and jerk attempts, he missed out on gold with just eight points. Goldo Mao of Samoa lifted a total weight of 360 kg to win the gold medal. On the other hand, England’s Owen Buxal won the bronze medal by giving a tough competition to Pardeep and was only one point short.