MARATHI Eve Rahi Sarnobat Bags Gold In Women’s 25 Mt Pistol Shooting In Asiad

RAHI Jeevan Sarnobat from Maharashtra   on Wednesday became the first woman to win a gold medal in shooting in a Asian Games for India. Sarnobat, 27, has won the coveted medal in women’’s 25 metre pistol event. With her stellar effort, Rahi became the second gold medallist from the Indian shooting contingent after 16-year-old Saurabh Chaudhary from UP’s Meerut bagged the topmost honours in the 10m air pistol finals on Tuesday She is also the sixth Indian to shoot a gold at the Games, joining to shoot win a gold medallion at the Games, joining Chaudhary, Jaspal Rana, Randhir Singh, Jitu Rai and Ronjan Sodhi. Her 34 in the finals also ended up as a joint Games Record.She had won two gold medals in 2010 Commonwealth Games held  New Delhi, first of the two golds in 25m pistol event in pair with Anisa Sayyed.Rahi, who  hails from Kolhapur in Maharashtra and is posted as Deputy Collector in the district, was inspired to become shooter by fellow  Maharashtrian and 50m rifle prone world champion Tejaswini Sawant. She became India’s first pistol shooter to win gold medal in the world cup. She won the 25m pistol event in the ISSF World cup in Changwon. In the 2014  Glasgow CWG , she won gold in women’s 25-metre pistol. In the same year, she won the Bronze medal in the 25-metre pistol team event at the 2014 Asian Games at Incheon, where she teamed up with Anisa Sayyed and Heena Sidhu. After  Rahi had won the bronze medal in world cup 2011, she represented India   in London Olympics .In May 2015, Rahi was recommended for the country’s prestigious, Arjuna Award by the National Rifle Association of India(NRAI).In the  ongoing Asiad, she  defeated Thailand’s Naphaswan Yangpaiboon.Both were tied at 34 points following 10 series of five shots each, taking it to a shoot-off.Both found the target four times in the first shoot-off, leading to another where Rahi shot three and the Thai managed two, ensuring a historic gold for the Indian. The bronze went to South Korea’s Kim Minjung.Rahi was in the lead for the major part of the final and her first 10 shots were on target. She got a five out five even in the sixth series. Another medal hope Manu Bhaker, however, finished sixth in the finals. The 16-year-old had a remarkable morning as she shot 593 to equal the Games qualification record. (with DD Sports inputs & pic courtesy : The Mid-Day) .