Asian Games: Shooter Sift Kaur Samra Bags Gold. Esha Singh Gets Silver In 25m Pistol Event

Hangzhou Asian Games: Indian shooters dominated proceedings at the Asian Games on Wednesday.

Gold medallist Indian shooter Sift Kaur Samra and bronze medallist Ashi Chouksey

Source : PTI

Indian shooters dominated proceedings at the Asian Games in China's Hangzhou on Wednesday, with Sift Kaur Samra breaking the record to win gold in the individual 50m rifle 3-position event. This was India's first individual gold at the Asian Games this year.

On the other hand, Esha Singh won the silver medal in women's 25m pistol event.

Earlier in the day, Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh and Rhythm Sangwan secured the gold medal in the women's 25m pistol team event.

"An exemplary Gold for India. Congratulations to the 25m Pistol Women Team, comprising Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh and Rhythm Sangwan for their spectacular victory! Their remarkable teamwork has yielded great results. Best wishes for their future endeavours," Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X.

Sift Kaur Samra Smashes World Record

Samra shot a world and Asian Games record score of 469.6 in the individual 50m rifle 3 position event to claim gold. Ashi Chouksey, the other Indian who participated in the event, secured bronze. Chouksey scored 451.9 to bag the third position.

India could have bagged the top two positions but for China's Qiongyue Zhang, who won the silver medal with a score of 462.3.

"It really feels so good, exciting and fun...We will celebrate, the whole of India will celebrate...The feeling of our national anthem being played in another country is amazing. That is the best thing. The next target is the Asian Championship," Samra told ANI.

This was Samra's and Chouksey's second medal of the day. The shooters, along with Manini Kaushik, won silver in the team event of the same event with a cumulative score of 1764. The gold medal was bagged by China.

"I am the only one who has three medals in the Asian Games...I am really happy about it...I just fixed the target that I want to shoot a 53 series...I think the last shot and the first shot are very stressful. It was the best feeling that we ever had seeing our national flag going up," ANI quoted Chouksey as saying.

India Bags Gold In Women's 25m Pistol Event

Earlier in the day, Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh and Rhythm Sangwan totalled 1759 to finish on top of the podium and give India its fourth gold medal in the Asian Games.

China bagged the silver medal with a score of 1756, while South Korea took the third position.