CWG: Women archers dazzle, shooters continue to excel (Afternoon lead)

NEW DELHI - Harpreet Singh gave India another gold in shooting while archer Deepika Kumari produced the day’s first gold in the Commonwealth Games here Sunday.

Deepika Kumari won the individual recurve archery gold. But India’s most experienced archer Dola Banerjee could only bag a bronze.

Harpreet’s gold came from the 25 metre centre fire pistol event.

The two medals took India’s gold count Sunday (at 1300 hours) to 26.

With 17 silver and 18 bronze, India remain in the second spot in the medals table behind Austrialia with 56 gold, 31 silver and 33 bronze and slightly ahead of England who have 24 gold, 45 silver and 29 bronze.

Shooters have won half the total gold medals for India. Men and women wrestlers are close behind with nine gold.

More gold medals could come India’s way later Sunday as the country’s first and only world wrestling champion Sushil Kumar launches his bid to add Commonwealth Games gold to his impressive list of career titles.

Sushil, who won his world title in Moscow, will be in action in the 66kg class.

Apart from Sushil, Anil Kumar (55kg), Anuj Kumar (84kg) and Joginder Kumar (120kg) will also be in action Sunday.

Late Sunday will see a high-voltage contest between traditional rivals India and Pakistan in men’s hockey for a semi-final berth.

In athletics, Anuradha Biswal (women’s 100m hurdles), Mayookha Johny (women’s long jump), and Krishna Poonia and Seema Antil (women’s discus) will take the field.