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| July 31, 2002 | Wednesday | Jamadi-ul-Awwal 20,1423 |
Irshad and Zahid grab first medal for Pakistan
BISLEY (England), July 30: Marksmen Irshad Ali and Zahid Ali won Pakistan’s first medal at the ongoing Commonwealth Games when they claimed a bronze in the men’s 25m Centre Fire Pistol shooting event here Tuesday.
India, however, continued their domination by capturing their eighth gold medal through Jaspal Rana and Mahaveer Singh.
The Indian pair scored 1150 points to edge out Australia’s David Moore and Bruce Quick, who scored 1149 for silver, with Irshad and Zahid finishing third with 1142 points.
Irshad and Zahid, who narrowly missed clinching the bronze medal in the men’s 25m Standard Pistol Pairs event on Monday by just two points, celebrated their country’s first medal of the Games
“My performance wasn’t that good but I thank God that he has honoured us with this bronze medal,” said Irshad.
“It’s the first medal for Pakistan and we are very proud.”
Meanwhile, it was Rana’s second gold of the Games and the sixth of his career as he successfully defended the title for the third time having won in Kuala Lumpur in 1998 and Victoria in 1994.
“I am very pleased with the win but I made sime major mistakes,” said the 26-year-old.
“I was disappointed with my score but I don’t think anyone wouldn’t be pleased with gold. My teammate was shooting very well.
“During the first half I shot badly and I made up for it in the latter stages,” added Rana who had also triumphed in the 25m Standard Pistol event with Samaresh Jung.
Quick said that he understood why the Indians were disappointed with their score claiming that Rana was under severe pressure as he chased a hat trick of titles in the event.
“Maybe they were a little over-confident. I guess they can shoot better, but so can we,” said Quick.
“But on the day, with the pressure of the Commonwealth Games medals at stake, that’s always a great leveller.”
Results:
MEN’S 25M CENTRE FIRE PISTOL — PAIRS EVENT CONCLUSION:
1. Jaspal Rana and Mahaveer Singh (India) 1150 points; 2. David Moore and Bruce Quick (Australia) 1149; 3. Irshad Ali and Zahid Ali (Pakistan) 1142; 4. Allan Stuart McDonald and Daniel Francois Van Tonder (South Africa) 1140; 5. Greg Yelavich and Alan Earle (New Zealand) 1136; 6. Chester Aurelius Foster and Ronald Mcdonald Skeete (Barbados) 1119; 7. Peter Flippant and Simon Ulrick Lucas (England) 1118; 8. Hugh Stewart and Robert Doak (Northern Ireland) 1116; 9. Ian Harris and Steve Pengelly (Wales) 1107; 10. Suranga Fernando and Gamini Walgama (Sri Lanka) 1106; 11. Robert Carroll and Bruce Lillburn (Scotland) 1085; 12. Metodi Igorov and Wayne Salhany (Canada) 566.—AFP
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