Hosts India sustained their remarkable run at the 19th Commonwealth Games, adding four gold medals to stay second in the overall tally after six days of competition even as runaway leaders Australia opened up an even bigger gap on their pursuers with success in the pool, track and field, the shooting range and elsewhere.
India, though, kept up their momentum as well with two goals apiece from the wrestling at and the shooting range, having launched the day with their first-ever medal in the walking event at the Commonwealth Games. Harminder Singh hit the tape behind the leading Australian duo to chalk up home team’s second athletics medal in as many days.
At the Karni Singh Range, Gagan Narang helped add two gold and one bronze to the India’s overall collection. He shot 1,166 points to better his own Melbourne Games record and win the men’s 50-metre rifle 3-position event and became only the third athlete to bag four gold medals in the Games so far besides Australian gymnast Lauren Mitchell and her compatriot Alicia Coutts in swimming. Vijay Kumar clinched his third gold in the 25-metre centre-fire pistol event alongside Harpreet Singh. The duo scored 1,159 for their medal while in the women’s section, world record holder Suma Shirur and Kavitha Yadav brought home a bronze in the 10-metre air rifle pairs event.
At the Indira Gandhi complex, India added two more wrestling golds to take their tally up to nine with Yogeshwar Dutt and Narsing Pancham Yadav claiming top honours in the 60-kg and 74-kg freestyle events before a capacity crowd.
Sania Mirza took silver in the women’s singles at the R.K. Khanna tennis complex while Monica Devi landed a bronze in the weightlifting arena.