Sift Kaur Samra, Jonathan Anthony bag gold medals at 38th National Games

NEW DELHI: At the 38th National Games, Punjab's Sift Kaur Samra and Karnataka's Jonathan Anthony emerged victorious in their respective shooting events, clinching gold medals.

Samra, a 23-year-old Asian Games gold medalist, showcased a dominant performance in the women's 50m 3 positions event, scoring 461.2 points and securing the first place at the Maharana Pratap Sports College.

Her achievement was particularly significant as it marked a strong return to form following her participation in the Paris Olympics, where she did not reach the finals.

Samra expressed her satisfaction with her performance and highlighted the importance of continuous training and attention to detail in her success.

Anjum Moudgil, also from Punjab, won the silver medal in the same event with a score of 458.7 points, while Surabhi Bhardwaj Rapole from Telangana claimed the bronze with 448.8 points.

Moudgil, who has previously won two silver medals at the 2018 World Championships, praised the quality of the shooting range and the organization of the event, noting her long-standing admiration for Samra's skills and their shared success in national competitions.

In the men's 10m pistol event, Jonathan Anthony from Karnataka achieved gold with a performance that stood out for its composure and precision. Silver and bronze in this event went to SSCB's Ravinder Singh and Gurpreet Singh, respectively.

Anthony expressed his delight at winning against a competitive field that included shooters of national and international repute, attributing his success to his ability to maintain focus and execute his strategy effectively.

"I'm thrilled with this win. Competing against such talented shooters who have represented India at the highest level makes this victory even more meaningful. Today was my day, and I'm proud of how it all came together," Anthony said.