The junior men's skeet squad led by Anantjeet Naruka bagged India's fifth gold medal at the 4th Asian Shotgun Championship, currently under way in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Anantjeet, shot a total of 114 in the final round to also clinch an individual silver medal while compatriots Karam Sukhbir and Angad Bajwa both shot 113 to go into a shoot off for the individual bronze along with a Kuwaiti opponent, at the end of which Karam emerged triumphant.
"Skeet shooting has been an area where India did not manage to win any medals of note in international competition over the years and this performance, particularly at the junior level, comes as a shot in the arm for the discipline," said a jubilant Raninder Singh, President, National Rifle Association of India (NRAI). He added, "A team gold and two individual medals in skeet at the Asian level suggest that sustained green-shoots have been nurtured and the future of skeet certainly looks food for India."
India's tally going into the last day of competition now stands at an impressive five gold, one silver and one bronze medal.
Man Singh and Mairaj Ahmed Khan shot 118 and 113, respectively, in the senior men's skeet event to finish outside the medal positions.