The ace India marksman Gagan Narang clinched a bronze in men's 10-metre air rifle event, while his illustrious compatriot and defending champion Abhinav Bindra failed to qualify for the final at the Royal Artillery Barracks on Monday. However, the defeat of the boxer Sumit Sangwan left a bad taste in mouth, who went down 14-15 under controversial circumstances to Brazil's Yamaguchi Falcao Florentino in the first round of 81-kilogramme category.
The 19-year-old boxer fought valiantly and should have won more points, but the judges thought otherwise, as surprised TV commentators called the verdict 'daylight robbery'.
Narang, taking part in his third Olympics, had a total score of 701.1 (598 qualifying, 103.1 final). In the final round, he had a series of 10.7, 9.7, 10.6, 10.7, 10.4, 10.6, 9.9, 9.5, 10.3 and 10.7 to give India its first medal from the London Games. The gold went to Romania's Alin George Moldoveanu (702.1 points) while Niccolo Campriani of Italy (701.5) secured the second position.
Indian shooters have now won medals in three Games in a row. The double trap shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore won silver in 2004; Bindra gave India a historic gold in Beijing, while Narang has now bagged a bronze.
Sangwan, who qualified for London Olympics after bagging the light heavyweight title at AIBA Asian Olympic qualifiers in Astana, came out swinging and to his credit took the third round 6-5. But that could not save him from becoming the second Indian boxer after Shiva Thapa to be knocked out in the first round.
The 19-year-old boxer fought valiantly and should have won more points, but the judges thought otherwise, as surprised TV commentators called the verdict 'daylight robbery'.
Narang, taking part in his third Olympics, had a total score of 701.1 (598 qualifying, 103.1 final). In the final round, he had a series of 10.7, 9.7, 10.6, 10.7, 10.4, 10.6, 9.9, 9.5, 10.3 and 10.7 to give India its first medal from the London Games. The gold went to Romania's Alin George Moldoveanu (702.1 points) while Niccolo Campriani of Italy (701.5) secured the second position.
Indian shooters have now won medals in three Games in a row. The double trap shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore won silver in 2004; Bindra gave India a historic gold in Beijing, while Narang has now bagged a bronze.
Sangwan, who qualified for London Olympics after bagging the light heavyweight title at AIBA Asian Olympic qualifiers in Astana, came out swinging and to his credit took the third round 6-5. But that could not save him from becoming the second Indian boxer after Shiva Thapa to be knocked out in the first round.