Rio Olympics bound Apurvi Chandela led the charge as Indians grabbed six medals, including three gold, on the opening day of shooting competitions here on Wednesday.
Chandela easily shot down the gold in her pet event of women's 10m air rifle with a total score of 209.00 points, while compatriots Elizabeth Susan Koshy and Pooja Ghatkar won the silver and bronze.
In men's 50m pistol event, however, Indians failed to win the gold with Om Prakash — who shot 187.3 points — bagging a silver and Olympic-bound Prakash Nanjappa finishing outside podium at fourth. The gold was won by Bangladesh's Sakil Ahmed, who shot 187.6 points.
Prakash later told that he took part in the event despite having problems in his left eye, which did not allow to give his best. "I took part despite not being well. I have been feeling a burning sensation on my left eye for the last two days and I am having antibiotics. So, I could not focus my eyes for long," he said.
India also pocketed a gold each in men's 50m pistol team event and women's 10m air rifle team event.
India's Men's 50m Pistol team comprised Omkar Singh, Prakash Nanjappa and Om Prakash who shot a combined total of 1622.
The absence of top-notch competition in the South Asian Games does not affect Chandela, who says the strength of the field is none of her concern as long as she is winning gold medals.
"A gold is a gold and I won the gold for my country. That is the satisfaction and the motivation. I wanted to be in as many events as possible ahead of the Rio Olympics," she told.
Chandela was one of the first Indian shooters to qualify for Rio Games, grabbing her berth last year. Chandela says she has started her training in right earnest for the Games in August. "I want to do well in the Olympics and I want to maintain my confidence. So, I took part here and I am happy that I did well and won a gold," she said.
Asked about the tournaments she is competing in the run-up to the Olympics, she said, "I am going to take part in all the four World Cup legs to be held before the Olympics. That will give me enough of top level competitions before the Olympics."