27-year-old Rahi Jeevan Sarnobat became the first Indian woman to clinch gold in shooting by beating Thailand’s N Yangpaiboon in a double shoot-off in the 25m Pistol event in the 18th Asian Games on Wednesday.

India’s best bet Manu Bhaker, who finished as no. 1 with a Games Record in the qualifying rounds, finished sixth in the event. Interestingly, Sarnobat had finished sixth in the qualifying rounds but she turned it around in the finals.

The 27-year-old shot a games record score on her way to winning the yellow metal at the Jakabaring Shooting Range.  Both Rahi and Yangpaiboon shot four out of five shots in the first shoot-off, and then in the second shoot-off the Indian prevailed over her opponent by missing one less.

This was India’s second gold in shooting after teenager Saurabh Chaudhary won the 10m Air Pistol final on Monday. India’s gold tally stands at four with the other two coming from wrestling through Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat.

More to follow...