Panaji, Nov 5: Asian Games gold medallist shooter Palak Gulia of Haryana, tennis star Rutuja Bhosale of Maharashtra and skeet shooter Angad Vir Bajwa of Punjab bagged their second gold medal of the 37th National Games as the race for the top of the table heated up with four days left for the closing ceremony.
Gulia added the women’s 10m Air Pistol gold to her 10m air pistol mixed team gold at the Manderem Shooting range while Bajwa paired with Parinaaz Dhillon to win mixed team skeet gold as third-placed Haryana’s gold tally reached 48.
Maharashtra continued to remain on top of the medal tally with a total of 193 medals including 67 gold, 61 silver and 65 bronze while Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) are second with 52 gold medals. However, with Haryana expected to win at least 7-8 gold medals from boxing and a few more in shooting, they are sure to push for the top spot.
Later in the day, Odisha got the better of Manipur in the penalty shootout to win the women’s football at Tilak Maidan, Vasco.
Both teams were deadlocked on 1-1 at the end of regulation time and extra time which forced the match into a tie-breaker. Odisha prevailed on penalties 4-2 to secure the gold.
In the morning session, Gulia led Haryana’s sweep of 10m Air Pistol medals with Rhythm Sangwan and Drishti Sangwan clinching the silver and bronze respectively.
Another Asian Games gold medallist, Abhay Singh representing Tamil Nadu, showcased his class by defeating his state-mate and second seed Velavan Senthilkumar 11-7, 12-10, 11-6 to clinch the men’s singles squash gold.
Goa’s Akanksha Salunkhe added one more gold to the state’s tally after the second seed beat Tamil Nadu’s Pooja Arthi 11-5, 11-4, 11-3 in the final at the Chicalim multipurpose stadium.
Meanwhile, Bhosale added a mixed doubles title to her women’s doubles crown on Sunday, partnering Arjun Kadhe. The Maharashtra duo defeated Tamil Nadu’s N Jeevan and C Sai Samitha 6-3, 6-1 to clinch the gold medal.
Sidharth Vishwakarma beat Sidharth Rawat 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 in an all Uttar Pradesh final to win the gold in the men’s singles final while top seed Vaidehi Chaudhari secured the gold in the women’s category beating Telangana’s Rashmika Srivali 7-5, 7-6. (Agencies)
