Abhinav Bindra, Gagan Narang win first gold medal for India

 Indian shooters Abhinav Bindra and Gangan Narang fired in unison and shot a Games record 1193 in men's 10m air rifle event to give the country its first gold medal in the 19th Commonwealth Games here today. The pair together scored 1193 to break their own record, which they had set four years ago in Melbourne, by notching up 1189. 

World record holder Gagan, coming off a none-too-impressive season, shot a spectecular sequence of 99, 100, 100, 99, 100, 100 to total a grand 598, while Beijing Olympic gold medalist, Bindra's series read 100, 98 ,99, 100, 99, 99 for a total of 595 in the first shooting event of the Games.

England's James Huckle and Kenny Parr (1174) won the silver medal while Bangladesh's Abdullah Hel Baki and Md. Asif Hussain Khan (1173) had to be content with bronze. Both teams, however, were far behind the Indian dup of Bindra and Gagan.

"Many thought I am a dictator, since I had imposed a gag order on the shooters prior to the Games. But whatever I was doing, I was doing for the country. And we have got the reward for that," said national coach Sunny Thomas.

Thomas, however, cautioned that, instead of basking in glory, it would be wise to focus on the coming events. "This was easy but I am sure the coming events are going to be difficult. I am happy that both Gagan and Abhinav shot well today. It's certainly a good start for India and we hope to maintain the momentum," Thomas said. 

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