Asian Games: Rana wins 1st shooting gold

Jaspal Rana came out from near oblivion to clinch India's first gold medal in shooting at the Asian Games in 12 years by taking the honour in the men's 25m standard pistol event here today.

The 30-year-old broke Indian shooters' gold medal jinx when he fired 574 at the majestic Lusail shooting ranges to regain the title after his gold in the same event at the Hiroshima Games in 1994.

Despite being down with fever for the last three days and feeling dizzy during the competition, the Delhi-based shooter also led India to the silver medal, with Samresh Jung and Ronak Pandit, who both scored an identical 558, to take the total to 1690 in the team competition.

South Korea won the team gold medal with a tally of 1696 and bronze went to Thailand that garnered 1686 points.

"After almost 14 years of training, I have won the gold medal. I am sick with fever, I felt so tired with headache and dizziness today. So, I am happy with what I have achieved," Rana said after his stupendous show.

Rana, the original poster-boy of Indian shooting after his Hiroshima feat, had settled for the silver in the next edition at Bangkok and returned empty-handed from Busan four years ago.

The pistol king is so far the only Indian to win the gold in shooting here with even Athens silver medallist Rajyawardhan Singh Rathore settling for an individual bronze in men's double trap on Tuesday. (Press Trust of India)