Jitu Rai Wins Gold, Om Mitharval Gets Bronze in 10m Air Pistol Event at CWG 2018 for India

After 16-year-old Manu Bhaker opened the account for India in shooting with a gold medal, it is Commonwealth Games legend Jitu Rai who clinched the second gold in the sporting event. The 30-year-old has won the yellow medal in 10m air pistol discipline in Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games on Monday. This is second straight Commonwealth Games gold medal for Jitu Rai after he had emerged victorious in Glasgow 2014. India’s Om Mitharval finished third to bag the bronze medal in CWG 2018. India’s medal tally now stands at 15 including 8 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze. They are placed third in the CWG 2018 medal table behind Australia and England.

In the 10m Air Pistol event final on Monday at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, shooters Jitu Rai and Om Prakash Mitharval won gold and bronze after shooting 235.1 and 214.3 points respectively. Australia's Kerry Bell finished at the second spot with 233.5 points to claim the silver medal in the eight-man finals at the Belmont Shooting Centre.

It was an exciting clash of shooters in the finals, where Jitu Rai led with 100.4 at the end of stage 1, while Mitharval was third with 98.1. In stage 2 elimination, Rai started with 10.3 and 10.3 to lead the pecking order, even as his compatriot moved up and displaced Bell at second place with two 10.1s. Championship Rai continued to surge ahead with a 10.2 but an 8.4 disturbed his momentum somewhat, as the next shot fetched him 9.2.

Meanwhile, 23-year-old Mitharval closed the gap as Rai had just 8.8 in the 18th shot to Mitharval’s 10.0. However, Mitharval slipped after that even as Rai managed another 10.0 and maintained the lead throughout to emerge triumphantly.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 09, 2018 08:50 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).