Shreyasi wins silver, Asab bronze as Indian tally increases to 20 with discipline contributing eight
Young markswoman Shreyasi Singh notched up a silver medal while Mohammed Asab clinched a bronze as Indian shooters continued their medal-winning feats to add two more to India’s collection on the fourth day of competitions in the 20th Commonwealth Games here on Sunday.
The 22-year-old Shreyasi gave ample display of her potential by winning the silver in the women’s double trap event as the shooters accounted for nine medals in India’s overall tally of 19 so far.
Mohammed Asab was the other shooter who provided some cheer for the strong Indian contingent by claiming the bronze medal in the men’s double trap event at the Barry Buddon Centre at Dundee.
Having clinched her maiden CWG medal, Shreyasi attributed her success to a training stint in Italy and thanked senior shooters Manavjit Singh Sandhu and Mansher Singh for their encouragement.
“I trained in Italy for some time before the Commonwealth Games and that has helped me. I would also like to thank the federation and the government,” Shreyasi said.
“My senior like Manavjit Singh and Mansher Singh have really helped and encouraged me in my career. I am happy that shooting is doing well in India and hope it grows further.”
Shreyasi could not win a medal in the last Commonwealth Games in Delhi. “I could not win a medal in Delhi (trap singles). I won one here though it is a silver. I am very delighted,” she said after winning the silver.
“But I could have been in for a gold medal shoot-off had I not missed target twice in the final round. The first round was just not that good but in the final round I could have done better and would have been in a gold medal shoot-off,” she said with her mother by her side.
“This is my second CWG and it’s my first medal and it’s been a fantastic experience. I’ve been glad to be a part of it. I missed two double shots and that’s the reason I missed out on the gold medal, but I guess that’s what shooting is all about. The best shooters perform under pressure and this is what I have to learn. I was feeling confident and assured that my mother is also here.”
Shreyasi’s grandfather Hari Shri, as well as her father, Digvijay Singh, have been presidents of National Rifle Association of India, and taking up shooting at a young age of 16 in 2008 was a natural progression.
Shreyasi is happy that she had chosen the right career. “I have completed my graduation and I am in shooting full time. I have the support of my family. I want to dedicate this silver to my coaches, colleagues and friends who have helped me in reaching here. I will go for gold next time,” she said.
Asked about the closely-fought finals, she said, “It was a very intense experience. We were a small group (of four shooters) and all close to each other, and one single round could have made all the difference.”
With the addition of two more medals, India’s overall medals tally climbed to 19 with five gold, eight silver and six bronze and continued to maintain their fifth position on the medals table.
Shreyasi shot down a total target of 92 to bag the silver, two shots behind gold winner Charlotte Kerwood of England. Another Englishwoman Rachel Parish won the bronze with 91 points, after a shoot-off with Cynthia Meyer of Canada.
A not-so-impressive first round of 22 points saw Shreyasi trailing at the third spot after the third and penultimate round but the Delhi shooter recovered some lost ground in the final round. To win the silver at the Barry Buddon Centre at Dundee near here.
With Kerwood, in whose name the Commonwealth Games record of 106 points (at 2006 Melbourne) stands, struggling in the final round, Shreyasi was in with a chance to go for a shoot-off for the gold but missed the double target twice to settle for the white metal. Shreyasi had rounds of 22, 24, 23, 23.
The other Indian in the fray, 20-year-old Varsha Varman finished fifth with 88 points (22, 19, 24, 23). In the men’s double trap event, the 26-year-old Asab from Meerut shot 26 in the finals to pip Nathan Xuereb of Malta, who managed 24.
Asab was placed fifth in the qualifications while another Indian shooter in the event, Ankur Mittal had to be contend with a fifth-place finish in the finals. Mittal qualified second for the finals.
The Indian women’s table tennis team, runners-up in Delhi four years ago, failed to win a medal after losing the bronze play-off to Australia at the Scotstoun Sports Campus. 23-year-old Ziyu Zhang starred for Australia by winning her two singles, against the experienced Shamini Kumaresan and Madhurika Patkar respectively. Zhang’s come from behind victory in the fourth rubber against Patkar helped Australia seal the tie 3-1.
Patkar and Kumaresan had lost the preceding doubles rubber against Jian Fang lay and Miao Miao to trail 1-2 in the match. Zhang gave Australia the early advantage by packing off Kumaresan 11-5 2-11 11-6 11-9 in the opening singles.
The chubby-looking Chinese-born paddler used her expansive forehand to good effect and was equally potent with her backhand.
For India, the long bright spot was Manika Batra’s convincing win over Fang lay, an opponent more than double the Delhi girl’s age. The 19-year-old foxed the 41-year-old Australian with smart use of pimples for a 11-5 8-11 11-8 11-7 win.
India’s Sajan Prakash finished a disappointing sixth in Heat 5 of men’s 100m butterfly event.