Bindra, Gangan set CWG record, give India first gold

New Delhi, Oct 5 (PTI) Indian shooters Abhinav Bindra and
Gangan Narang fired in unison and shot a Games record 1193 in
men's 10m air rifle event to give the country its first gold
medal in the 19th Commonwealth Games here Tuesday.
The pair together scored 1193 to break their own record,
which they had set four years ago in Melbourne, by notching up
1189.
World record holder Gagan, coming off a
one-too-impressive season, shot a spectecular sequence of 99,
100, 100, 99, 100, 100 to total a grand 598, while Beijing
Olympic gold medalist, Bindra's series read 100, 98 ,99, 100,
99, 99 for a total of 595 in the first shooting event of the
Games.
England's James Huckle and Kenny Parr (1174) won the
silver medal while Bangladesh's Abdullah Hel Baki and Md. Asif
Hussain Khan (1173) had to be content with bronze. Both teams,
however, were far behind the Indian dup of Bindra and Gagan.
"Many thought I am a dictator, since I had imposed a gag
order on the shooters prior to the Games. But whatever I was
doing, I was doing for the country. And we have got the reward
for that," said national coach Sunny Thomas.
Thomas, however, cautioned that, instead of basking in
glory, it would be wise to focus on the coming events. "This
was easy but I am sure the coming events are going to be
difficult. I am happy that both Gagan and Abhinav shot well
today. It's certainly a good start for India and we hope to
maintain the momentum," Thomas said. PTI