Hyderabad, Oct 26: Gagan Narang became the proud winner of India's first gold medal in Afro-Asian Games when he won the men's 10m air-rifle event in the shooting competition which began here today. Fifteen minutes after Narang's golden haul, Samresh Jung won the silver medal in men's 50m pistol surviving some anxious moments.
As in the past, Jung was under total pressure and his lack of concentration even gave the impression that he will even miss a bronze today.
Narang, a scholarship holder from Indian Airlines, who came in the absence of ace shooter Abhinav Bindra dedicated his medal in memory of his grand father R L Narang, who died in New Delhi three days ago. But for the one point lead that he had set up against third placed Ragal Emara in the qualifying round, Narang would have lost his gold.
The Hyderabad-based Narang who took the sport seriously only three years ago wanted to carry on his good work.
"I cannot afford to stop here and my aim is to achieve an Olympic quota," said Narang. By any yardstick, it was a creditable show by Narang who was told about his entry for the games just ten days ago and had returned to the city only last week. Bureau Report