Shreyasi's maiden shooting gold is India's 4th in Gold Coast

Gold Coast (Australia): Shreyasi Singh produced a stellar performance right when it mattered in rather difficult conditions at the Belmont Shooting Centre on Wednesday to claim her first major gold medal in a competition as big as this. She went one better than the silver she had four years ago and also the silver she won at the same venue last year while competing in a test event for the ongoing Commonwealth Games.

The 26-year-old Delhi shooter, who has been on the National team for more than eight years, rallied from an eight-point deficit in the final set to get into a tie for the first place with local Australian Emma Cox. The Indian then outduelled her in the shoot-off for double trap gold.

The bronze medal went to Scotland's Linda Pearson who shot 87 to finish a point ahead of Varsha Vaman, who ended fourth. Shreyasi hails from a family of politicians and administrators. Her father, Digvijay Singh and grandfather, Kumar Surendra Singh were both president of National Rifle Association of India, while Digvijay Singh, a one-time Union Minister, and his wife, Putul Singh, were also Members of Parliament.

Shreyasi's success in double trap was one of the three shooting medals India won on Wednesday. The other shooting medals for India were both bronze, as Om Mitharval finished third in men's 50m pistol, while Ankur Mittal was third in men's double trap. Shreyasi also became the third Indian woman to win a shooting gold at these Games, following Manu Bhaker's gold in 10m air pistol and Heena Sidhu's triumph in 25m pistol. The fourth gold was won by Jitu Rai in Men's 10m air pistol.AGENCIES