M A I N   N E W S

Geeta creates history, shooters reign supreme
M.S.Unnikrishan
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 7
Living upto their promise that this time around, they would finish second in the overall medals table behind Australia, the hosts India continued their medal haul with the kind of sustained regularity rarely witnessed

Doing region proud: Jhano Hansdah, Gangadeep Kaur of Patiala and Bheigyabati Chanu win bronze in archery team event; (Right) Gurpreet Singh of Amritsar and Vijay Kumar from Hamirpur with their golds in 25m pistol shooting event on Thursday. Tribune photos: Manas Ranjan Bhui

from Indian sportspersons at this level of competitions. India bagged three gold, as many silver and three bronze medals today.

A surprise gold and silver materialised in women's freestyle wrestling when Geeta of Haryana clinched the 55kg gold and Nirmala Devi annexed the 48kg silver. Nirmala lost the title bout to settle for the silver. Geeta's gold was the first-ever in women's wrestling in the Commonwealth Games. India are now firmly at the second position in the medals tally, behind Australia.

Shooters once again proved their propensity to win golds, when they lifted two more yellow metal today. The two shooting gold medals came in the men's pairs 25m and 10m pistol events, with Gurpreet Singh figuring in both the golds.

Gurpreet paired with Vijay Kumar to lift the gold medal in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol and then combined with Omkar Singh to bag the 10m air pistol title to earn a golden double.

Talking to The Tribune from New Delhi a joyous Vijay Kumar said, “I had already won an individual gold medal in this category in 2006 Commonwealth Games. This time I have won this together with Gurpreet. Tomorrow I am participating in individual event and would try to win gold for the country in this event too.” Vijay Kumar, a resident of Harsour village under Badsar sub-division of Hamirpur district and serving subedar in the Army.

For his father, himself an ex-serviceman Subedar Banku Ram, said, “It is a great moment for our country and my family since it is second time Vijay has won gold medal in Commonwealth Games. This time it is special since games are being hosted in New Delhi.”

He said, “Now we wish he wins gold medal in next Olympic Games for the country.”

Grappler Geeta trounced her rival Emily Bensted of Australia in the 55 kg category final. She entered the gold medal round by defeating Lovina Odohi Edward of Nigeria, but her teammate - 63kg grappler Suman Kundu - lost in the semi-finals.

Men’s double trap shooter Ronjon Sondhi got a silver medal along with the men’s archery compound team and women’s 48kg freestyle grappler Nirmala Devi.

The three bronze medals came in archery (women’s team compound event), 77kg weightlifter Sudhir Kumar and Ashish Kumar, in men’s gymnastics (floor exercise).

India now have an overall medal tally 14 gold, 11 silver and 8 bronze medals. India also ensured many medals in tennnis, with Somdev Devvarman and Sania Mirza entering the men’s and women’s singles semi-finals. Leander and Mahesh Bhupathi also entered the men’s doubles semi-final.

Fourth seeded Indian eves breezed into the semi-finals of table tennis, shutting out England 3-0 to setup a title clash against top seeds Singapore. In archery, the Indian men’s compound team lost to England by 229-231 in the gold medal-deciding match while the women defeated Malaysia by four points (223-219) in the corresponding event’s bronze play-off.

Chetan Anand and Saina Nehwal recorded wins in contrasting styles as India beat Canada 3-0 to set up a semifinal clash with England in the mixed badminton team event.