Indian shooters were on target for the second successive day as they delivered a bronze medal in the men's 10m air pistol team event, while Dipika Pallikal assured the country of its first women's singles squash medal in the 17th Asian Games here today.
New shooting sensation Jitu Rai, who gave India the first gold medal yesterday, was again the standout performer as he guided the men's team to the bronze medal in 10m air pistol event at the Ongnyeon International Shooting Range.
Rai's splendid and precise shooting, that helped him garner 585 points and qualify for the medal round with the second-best score, backed up by Samaresh Jung's 580 (who finished 9th) and Prakash Nanjappa's 578 (14th), albeit with an injured leg, helped India garner 1743 points, the same as second placed China, for the bronze.
In fact, India and China were level on points and the silver was decided by the number of Xs (bullseye) in the tens in which the latter tallied one more -- 65 to India's 64.
The gold was won by hosts South Korea with a combined tally of 1744.
On the squash court, Dipika assured India of a maiden women's singles squash medal, while top seed Saurav Ghosal confirmed his third successive podium finish in men's singles after the two reached the semifinals of their respective events.
Ghosal defeated Pakistan's Iqbal Nasir 11-6 9-11 11-2 11-9 in a contest, which lasted 58 minutes at the Yeorumul Squash Courts.
Dipika, on the other hand, triumphed in an all-Indian battle against senior pro Joshana Chinappa 7-11 11-9 11-8 15-17 11-9.
In hockey, the men's team hammered Sri Lanka 8-0 in their pool B match to begin their campaign in style.
The tennis players were also in good form as India blanked Nepal 3-0 to sail into the quarterfinals of men's team event.
Yuki Bhambri did not drop a game en route to a crushing 6-0 6-0 win over Jeetendra Pariyar to seal the issue in India's favour, after Sanam Singh posted a comfortable 6-0 6-1 victory over Abhishek Bastola at the Yeorumul Tennis Courts.
In the inconsequential doubles tie, the Indian duo of Divij Sharan and Saketh Myneni registered a comfortable straight sets 6-0 6-0 win over Santosh Khatri and Sonam Dawa, thrashing their opponents in only 35 minutes.
