Two smoking barrels

20-year-old Rahi Sarnobat and Anisa Sayyed clinched Indias second gold in 25m pistol womens pairs. Deepak Sharma and Omkar Singh then clinched the silver medal in 50m pistol for men with a score of 1187,finishing just seven points behind the gold medalists. Another high point for Indian shooting followed when World Championships gold medalist Tejaswini Sawant partnered Lajja Goswami to seal the silver in 50m three positions. The result: India broke two meet records en route to the medals and lifted India to the second position in the medal tally,while they were languishing out of the top five after the first day.

Though Bindra and Narangs gold was never in doubt,the manner in which it was won was an indication of things to follow in Wednesdays individual event where the two champions will once again fight for supremacy. While Narang shot a total of 598,Bindra scored 595,and their combined total of 1193 bettered their previous mark of 1189 set in Melbourne in the 2006 Games. Though the English duo of James Huckle and Kenny Parr finished a distant second 8211; nineteen points behind 8211; Narang dismissed that it was a one way affair. No competition is easy or can be taken lightly. More so when we are shooting at home and there is enormous expectations from us, he said.

While,Narang and Bindra can relish in the golden glory today,focus immediately shifts to the singles competition on Wednesday. Im looking forward to it. It will be a new day. Ill take each and every shot with equal concentration, Bindra said.

The star duo were undoubtedly the center of attention on the opening day at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range but the real drama unfolded at the 25m range,where Anisa Sayyed and Rahi Sarnobat came from behind to beat Australians Linda Ryan and Lalita Yauhleuskaya to the gold. The Indian pairs total of 1156 bettered the record set by the same Australian team in Manchester 2002.

They were the favourites and all of us knew in advance that they will perform well. As for us,we are new comers and we did well by our standards, said Sarnobat,who was the driving force in India getting the top position. Sayyed,though was quietly confident of the turnaround. I knew we will pull in front after the halfway mark, she said. Englands team of Julia Lydall and Gorgs Geikie just about pipped Malaysians Siti Nur Masitah and Pei Chin Bibiana to take the bronze.

Sawant and Goswami totaled an impressive 1143 in prone,standing and kneeling stage,but still finished six points behind gold medalsits Aqilah Sudhir and Xiang Wei Jasmine Ser of Singapore,who totaled 1149. Scotlands Kay Copland and Jen Mcintosh 1142 settled for the bronze medal.