India aims high! Om Prakash Mithraval bags bronze in Commomwealth Games
Gold Coast, April 11: On Day 7th, India raises hopes of everyone as aiming to grab as many medals coming its way. The latest one in the coat is won by Om Mitharval becoming India’s second double-medalist at the 2018 Commonwealth Games by taking bronze in the 50m pistol men’s final on Wednesday.
Shooting a total score of 201.1 to finish third, Om Mitharval took away bronze. Mitharval, a bronze winner in the men’s 10m air pistol two days ago had topped the qualification round and put in a very good performance in the 10-man finals, even as defending champion Jitu Rai shot a disappointing 105 to finish last.
Mitharval topped the first round with a series of solid shots, then fell to second as Singapore’s Swee Hon Lim surged ahead in stage 2 (elimination) with shots of 9.4 and 10.1. Australia’s Daniel Repacholi, a two-time CWG gold medallist - briefly stormed to the lead with a stunning sequence of 10, 10.1, 10.2 and 9.7 but Mitharval rallied back with shots of 10.2 and 10 to eliminate Lim.
An engrossing tussle ensued between Repacholi and Mitharval, who exchanged shots of 9.8 and 10.1 against 8.6 and 9.2 before the Australian closed out the gold medal with shots of 9.6, 10.7, 9.3 and 9.2. Well placed at second, Mitharval lost his focus and shot 7.2 and 7.6 while Bangladesh’s Shakil Ahmed launched a strong run with 9.1, 9.5, 9.6 and 8.7 to take silver with a toal of 220.5.
Taking India's overall medal tally to 21, and delivering the first medal from the country's para-athletic contingent at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, was para-powerlifter Sachin Chaudhary who claimed bronze in the men's heavyweight final at the Carrara Sports Arena 1.
On a day where three other Indian para-powerlifters reached finals, Chaudhary went the distance in his 10-man final and finished with a combined effort of 181 points. Winning gold was Nigeria's Abdulazeez Ibrahim and silver went to Malaysia's Yee Khie Jong.
Chaudhary, 35, last year won a silver medal at the Powerlifting World Cup in Dubai with a career-best lift of 200. He also represented India at the 2012 Summer Paralymics where he finished ninth in the men's -82.50kg event.
Also on Tuesday, the para-powerlifting pair of Farman Bash and Ashok Kumar finished fifth and 11th respectively in the men's lightweight final, while Sakina Khatun came in fifth in the women's lightweight final.