Hosts claim first gold of the Games

Olympic title-holder Abhinav Bindra and double world-record holder Gagan Narang launch India’s gold medal hunt.

NEW DEHLI: Olympic title-holder Abhinav Bindra and double world-record holder Gagan Narang launched India’s gold medal hunt in the Commonwealth Games shooting competition. The hosts took gold in the men’s 10-metre air rifle pairs and the women’s 25-metre pistol pairs events and a silver in the 50-metre pistol men’s event.

Bindra and Narang scored a total of 1,193 points ahead of England’s James Huckle and Kenny Parr, who won the silver with a total of 1,174 points. Anisa Syyed and Rahi Sarnobat overcame a strong challenge from Australia to win the gold medal in the 25-metre pistol pairs event for women.

India took a clean sweep of the gold medals in the Greco-Roman wrestling events when Anil Kumar beat Australian Hassene Fkiri in the 96-kilogramme final, Sanjay won the 74-kg category and Ravinder Singh won the 60-kg category.

Australia dominate cycling

Australia swept the board on the opening day of cycling, taking three gold medals and breaking three Games records.

Anna Meares defended her 500-metre time-trial title, winning the first gold on offer before Scott Sunderland clinched the 1,000-metre and Jack Bobridge made it three in the 4,000-metre individual pursuit.

Meares crossed the line in 33.758 seconds, beating compatriot Kaarle McCulloch by almost a second. Sunderland recorded a time of 1:01.411 while Bobridge set a time of 4:17.495.

England secure women’s hockey win

Crista Cullen scored a hat-trick as England posted a 4-1 win over Wales in a Pool B women’s hockey match. The defender put England ahead after scoring in the 10th and 20th minute before completing  the hat-trick six minutes into the second half before Charlotte Craddock scored as well. Wales managed a consolation goal through Sarah Thomas.

South Africa narrowly defeated Scotland 2-1, Australia set up an 11-0 rout of Trinidad & Tobago, while New Zealand also registered a 5-0 win against Malaysia.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6^th, 2010.