Apurvi, Ravi open India’s medal count

Palembang: India opened its account in the 18th Asian Games with a bronze medal after Apurvi Chandela and Ravi Kumar cracked under pressure to finish third in the rifle mixed team shooting event here today.

The Indians aggregated 429.9 after 42 shots in the 48-shot final and were in second spot for major part of the 48-shot finals before China overtook them to take the silver.

The strong Chinese pairing of Ruozhu Zhao and Haoran Yang ended with a score of 492.5. Chinese Taipei's Yingshin Lin and Shaochuan Lu claimed the gold, scoring 494.1. 

Korea and Mongolia finished fourth and fifth respectively in the event held for the first time at the Games. It was a maiden Asian Games medal for Chandela, who will be aiming for a better colour medal in the 10m air rifle.

Chandela is also a multiple time World Cup winner and had bagged gold at 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. World Cup bronze medallist Kumar, who is mentored by the great Abhinav Bindra, had won a men's 10m rifle team bronze at last the edition at Incheon.

Chandela, having won the first Games medal for the country, was satisfied with her performance. "Our best finish together was fourth at the World Cup and we have improved on that. 

My first Asian Games medal and my first medal for India here. I am really happy about that but my focus is on main event (10m rifle) tomorrow," Chandela told PTI. 

Asked about slipping to third from second in the elimination stage, Chandela added: "This happens in shooting. I think we shot alright."