(Sports news) The Indian shooters were rewarded by the ranges with two gold, three silver, and two bronze medals on Wednesday, the most successful day thus far in terms of both quality and quantity as India’s Asian Games medal total rose to 22 on the seventh day of competition here.

With four more days left in the competition, India’s shooting team now has 12 medals after sweeping every competition, including rifle, pistol, and shotgun.

Anantjeet Singh Naruka beat out the famous Karni Singh, who won bronze in 1974, to win India’s first-ever silver and just their second medal in skeet, while Esha Singh won silver in the 25-meter fire pistol.

Ashi Chouksey won a bronze medal in the 50m 3-position, giving her three medals overall. But Sift Kaur Samra owned the day. The 22-year-old is ‘glad’ since she won the first and, as of now, only individual gold medal for India at the 19th Asian Games, setting new Asian, Asian Games, and world records in the process.

“I think I can be called a ‘happy shooter’. I am not very calculative, I don’t think during competition but then again I am thinking about the process, focussing on my technique like the coaches told me.

“The one time I actually got the thought in my mind that maybe this might be a record, I shot a 9 so then I just pulled myself back into the present and not think,” she laughed

Sift won a gold medal at the Asian Games in the 50m 3-position, becoming the first Indian woman to do it in 37 years since Soma Dutta won silver in 1986, the year that men and women began competing separately.

Its new World Record (469.6 points), which beat Seonaid McIntosh of Britain by an enormous 2.6 points, makes it exceptional.

Sift did so with a level of dominance uncommon in the sport, taking the lead from start to finish as she leaped to the top at the conclusion of the first round. Others have faltered while under pressure, but Sift just continued to strengthen her position as the competition went on.

“I actually did not know it was a world record. Feels exciting to have won gold and with a WR, especially in China, it feels pretty good,” she said.

“I have been training here and had come for the World University Games recently so I knew what kind of noise they make and I was prepared for it. In fact, noise from the rival supporters only motivates me further.”
Also read: Naruka bags silver in men’s skeet