Rana equals world record, fires two more Gold for India

Doha, Dec 8: Jaspal Rana strode the Lusail Shooting Range like a colossus and did the country proud, once again, by equalling the world record in 25m Centre fire pistol to earn two more Golds and, in the process, become the only Indian marksman to script three triumphs in an edition of the Asian Games here today.

Rana shot 590 to equal the World record and was three point ahead of his close rival Liu Guohui of China who shot 587 while Thailand's Jakkrit took the Bronze in 586.

In the team event Rana, Vijay Kumar and Samresh Jung also equalled World and Asian record as they aggregated 1748 for the Gold, Korea 1738 won the Silver and China took the Bronze with 1735.

The 30-year old shooter is the only second Indian to have won Gold in the Asian Games after Randhir Singh and the only one to have won the Gold twice in the extravaganza. He now has four Asiad Golds in his kitty, three from here and one from Hiroshima (1994).

Rana, who was on the verge of retiring from the sport and planning to migrate to Australia, gave a stunning display in the 25m Centre Fire Pistol event to win the individual and team Gold and spoil the Chinese party.

As is his wont, he rewrote record books for the second day running to end the Indian shooting team's campaign on a high note.

The Indian shooters claimed a haul of 14 medals (three Gold, five Silver and six Bronze) -- the country's best show so far in the Games. Indian contingent had only two silvers to show in Busan.

Rana, thus enabled Indian tri-colour to go up twice, on the last day in the ranges with his phenomenal showing.

He shot 294 in precision and 296 in rapid. His precision series ran 98, 98, 98 while in rapid he shot 100, 98, 98.

Vijay Kumar who finished ninth in the field of 48 shooters shot 580, which included 286 (96, 95, 95) in precision and 294 (97, 98, 99) in rapid.

Samresh Jung was placed 12th -- with 578. In precision, he had 287 (95, 95, 97) and 291 in Rapid (96, 95, 100).

''I am thrilled, feeling as if on the top of the world,'' said an overjoyed Rana. ''I gave my best and I am happy that I got the reward. It feels wonderful to be the only Indian to have won three Golds in the Asian Games shooting and overall four Golds.

''I would have been more happy if we had earned more Golds after all personal glory apart, National prtestige is also at stake in such level of competition,'' said Rana who has been suffering from fever for past couple of days.

''What makes me more happy that I won in a field which was world class. The Chinese, Thais and Kazakhs all were there, the conditions not very perfect and to win in these situation is all the more thrilling,'' he added.

Meanwhile, three Indian shooters, Meiraj Ahmed Khan, Man Singh and Allen Daniel Peoples, completed the formalties in the Skeet event and finished 28th ,29th and 32nd respectively. Mairaj, who yesterday had a three-round total of 69 (22, 24, 23), shot two more rounds this morning, 19 and 24, to aggregate his total to 112.

Man Singh, yesterday on 64 (21, 23, 20) had two round total of 48 today (25, 23) and totalled 112, while Daniel, on 67 (21, 23, 23) fired 43 (21, 23) for his total of 110.

The trio failed to reach the final. Kazakhstan's Viadislav Mouhamediev with a total of 135 (13, 122) won the gold followed by compatriot Sergey Yakshin 134 (12, 122) and UAE's Saeed al-Maktoum 132 (9,123).

UNI