28 Mail Today, NewMail Today, / Chandiga New Delhi,rh, Thursday, Saturday, April April 12, 7, 22018018

HREYASI Singh realised a lifetime ambition as S she shot gold after being involved in a shoot-off with Australian Emma Cox in the event at the Common- wealth Games in Gold Coast on Wednesday. The 26-year-old girl, originally from , now settled in New Delhi and pursuing her MBA from the Manav Rachna University is no stranger to the sport. Since a very young age she was initiated into the sport by father Digvijay Singh, a former minister who was also president of the National Rifle Association of . Shreyasi was 18 when her father passed away in London a few months before the 2010 New Delhi . At that time, she won a bronze in trap. Four years later in Glas- gow, Shreyasi won silver. Tuesday was her date with des- tiny. Tied with Emma at a score of 96/120, Shreyasi won the nerve-wracking shoot-off (2-1), as pressure seemed to consume the local Aussie favourite. Varsha Varman finished fourth in women’s double trap. SHREYASI

In a dramatic final round, Shreyasi was among the first batch of shooters and her score of 96 meant that Emma, who was in the second batch, needed 19 out of 30 to win Gold. Having hit 23, 28 and 27 in the previous WINS HER DREAM three rounds, Shreyasi looked destined for a lesser medal.

LL of a sudden, wind conditions changed. It became cloudy A and Emma shot 18 to tie with Shreyasi. The final round clearly got to the Australian as Shreyasi confidently nailed the first pair of targets in the sudden death while Emma missed one to give India their 12th gold medal. GOLD “It has been a tiring journey for me. I have worked hard for this and I knew if it came down to a shoot-off, I would give it my 100 Defeats local star Emma per cent. Winning gold is a dream come true,” said Shreyasi Singh, who is coached by Mansher Singh. “This is the most satisfying Cox in shoot-off to extend moment in my career. I was low after third round. But after seeing trhe fourth round, I was a lot more adjusted. I had lost the Common- India’s dominant run in sport wealth shooting championship gold medal last year to her (Emma) before,” said Shreyasi. “I had a 30-minute gap before the shoot-off and I prepared well. I have gained lot training under Mansher,” she added. In men’s double trap, India’s Ankur Mittal won bronze bronze after looking good for gold at one stage. Ankur and Tim Kneale from were tied at 53 but as Tim qualified for the final with a higher ranking score, he won. In the men’s 50m pistol, Jitu Rai and Om Prakash Mitharval, bronze winner in the same (Left) Om Mitharval event, qualified for the eight- wins the bronze medal man final. However, while Om during the men’s 50m Prakash notched up his second pistol final. bronze of the Games, Jitu fin- Ankur Mittal poses with ished eighth with a score of 105 the bronze medal after and was the first to be elimi- nated at the 12th shot mark. the men’s double trap Mail Today final.