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The new week for India couldn't have started in a better fashion as the men's 10m Air Rifle team comprising Divyansh Panwar, Aishwary Tomar and Rudrankksh Patil clinched the first gold medal for the country at the ongoing 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. The troika on September 25 (Monday) scripted history by smashing the world record en route finishing at the top of the podium.
In a stellar performance, India's shooting team shattered the existing world record at the Asian Games 2023, posting a remarkable 1893.7 points in the individual qualification round. This feat eclipsed the previous record held by China from the Baku World Championship earlier that year.
The Indian trio's score left South Korea trailing in second with 1890.1 points, and China settled for third with 1888.2 points. Rudrankksh's contribution to this triumph was 631.6 points, matching Aishwary's score. Meanwhile, Divyansh chipped in with 629.6 points.
Their combined prowess didn't just earn India the coveted gold in the team event but also placed all three shooters in the top-8 bracket for the 10m Air Rifle event. However, due to Asian Games stipulations limiting each nation to only two final qualifiers, Divyansh narrowly missed the cut, allowing Rudrankksh and Aishwary to progress.
Though the initial series saw a minor hiccup from the Indian contingent, with Rudrankksh and Divyansh scoring 104.8 each and Aishwary at 104.1, their resilience shone through. By the sixth series, they'd surpassed the world record with their combined tally of 1893.7 points.
This achievement wasn't just another medal; it was India's inaugural gold at the Asian Games 2023. Spearheading India's charge, the shooting team paved the way for a rewarding first day, where the nation clinched three silvers and two bronzes.
Further underscoring India's dominance in shooting, the women's 10m air rifle trio, comprising Ashi Chouksey, Mehuli Ghosh, and Ramita Jindal, clinched a silver medal, marking India's debut podium finish at Hangzhou 2023.
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