The 16-year-old Bhaker shot 236.5 to finish first on Tuesday, making up for the heartbreak at the Asian Games in Indonesia and the World Championship where she could not live up to her billing.
Beunos Aires: It was a historic day for India in Argentina as two gold medals were won by the nation’s athletes at the ongoing Youth Olympics 2018 here on Tuesday.
After weightlifter Jeremy Lalrinnunga became the country’s first-ever gold medallist in the history of Youth Olympic Games, another yellow metal came India’s way, in shooting, as Manu Bhaker triumphed in women’s 10m air pistol event.
The 15-year-old Lalrinnunga broke the national record in the men's 62kg category to claim the top honours while Bhaker rediscovered the form that made her a sensation in the women's 10m air pistol event.
Lalrinnunga, who is also a world youth silver-medallist, lifted a total of 274kg (124kg +150kg) to finish on top in the Argentine capital.
"I am feeling really happy that I won the gold medal here," Lalrinnunga told PTI.
The 16-year-old Bhaker shot 236.5 to finish first on Tuesday, making up for the heartbreak at the Asian Games in Indonesia and the World Championship where she could not live up to her billing.
Bang on Target!
The UNSTOPPABLE has won a glorious GOLD in the 10m Air Pistol event . Words fall short to appreciate what this prodigy has achieved in this one year. More power to you young woman!
"This is an important win for me. It will be a morale booster (after the Asian Games disappointment) as I look forward with an aim to bring home more laurels," Bhaker said after winning the gold.
Aizawl boy Lalrinnunga, who will turn 16 on October 26, is the son of a former boxer, Lalneihtluanga, who has seven national-level gold medals to his credit.
Lalrinnunga was himself an aspiring boxer before he shifted to weightlifting on the advice of coaches and was picked up by the Army Sports Institute scouts in 2011 at the age of eight.
Bhaker began the eight-woman final with a 10.0 and followed it up with a 10.1 and 10.4. She led the Stage 1 with 99.3 after a sequence that included seven scores of 10 and above.
Two 9.8 in the beginning of second stage (elimination) were followed by a 10.1 and 9.9, helping her maintain the lead over Thailand's Kanyakorn Hirunphoem by some distance.
The World Cup and Commonwealth Games gold medallist extended her domination in the following shots and looked to be on course for the yellow metal. She slipped once to the second place but quickly regained the top position.
In swimming, Srihari Nataraj, who competed in the 100m backstroke final despite being a reserve, could only manage a sixth position.
In table tennis, India’s Archana Kamath and Manav Thakkar won their singles matches of the group stage.
In hockey, Indian men demolished Austria 9-1.
Rising badminton sensation Lakshya Sen had it tough against Danylo Bosniuk in the first game before beating the Ukrainian 23-21, 21-8.
Earlier, India’s Tushar Mane and Mehuli Ghosh bagged a silver medal each in 10m rifle shooting while Thangjam Tababi Devi won the nation’s first medal in judo by finishing second in the 44kg category.
India won just two medals (silver and bronze) in the last Youth Olympics in 2014 in Nanjing in China. In the inaugural 2010 edition in Singapore, the nation bagged six silver and a couple of bronze medals.
In the ongoing Games, India is being represented by 47 athletes, its biggest ever contingent.
(With inputs from PTI)
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