DAINIK NATION BUREAU/DEHRADUN
Punjab’s Sifat Kaur Samra showcased an exceptional performance to clinch the gold medal in the women’s 50m 3-position event at the 38th National Games held at Maharana Pratap Sports College, Trishul Hall. Anjum Moudgil, also from Punjab, secured the silver, while Telangana’s Surabhi Bhardwaj Rapole took home the bronze medal in a fiercely competitive final.
Sifat Kaur Samra emerged victorious with a score of 461.2, followed by Anjum Moudgil with 458.7 and Surabhi Bhardwaj Rapole with 448.8. Kerala’s Vidarsha Vinod, who led after the kneeling position, could not maintain her advantage until the end.
Speaking about her victory, Sifat said, “This feels like a comeback after the Olympics. I trained relentlessly and am thrilled my efforts paid off. It’s even more special to share the podium with my state-mate Anjum. Competing against the country’s best shooters, every small detail mattered, and I’m thankful I avoided major mistakes.”
Anjum Moudgil also praised Sifat’s performance, saying, “This is the third time we’ve shared the National Games podium. Sifat is an outstanding shooter. Though my initial scores weren’t great, I stayed composed and fought back. The event was organized exceptionally well, and this was the best shooting range I’ve ever competed at.”
In the men’s 10m pistol event, Karnataka’s Jonathan Anthony claimed the gold medal, while Ravinder Singh and Gurpreet Singh, both from Services, earned silver and bronze, respectively. Jonathan expressed his pride, saying, “Winning gold among India’s top shooters is a huge honor. All the finalists were excellent competitors.”
The 38th National Games have brought together the nation’s finest athletes, with thrilling contests across various sports, highlighting the best of Indian talent.