India's Muskan Muskan 🇮🇳 climbs atop the 25m Pistol Women Junior podium in Sydney. #ISSFJWC pic.twitter.com/lFfBUICBDK
— ISSF (@ISSF_Shooting) March 28, 2018
The team gold was won by Muskan, Manu Bhaker and Devanshi Rana, adding to India's rich medal haul. India thus upstaged China with 22 medals, including nine gold to China's eight. India have also five silver and eight bronze medals. Muskan's medal was India's fourth individual gold in the prestigious tournament.
Muskan - who finished 4th at last year's ISSF Junior World Championship in Suhl, Germany -- took the lead at the end of the sixth round when she nailed a perfect 5-hit series and found herself sitting on a 3-point advantage over her closest rival, China's Qin Sihang (16). Muskan successfully defended that lead throughout the rest of the final, taking gold with 35 hits, while Qin finished with 34 and the silver medal around her neck.
Muskan Muskan's first international medal is also India's fourth individual gold in Sydney. 🇮🇳https://t.co/zU1VofTPL9 #ISSFJWC pic.twitter.com/1Abvh1WXe4
— ISSF (@ISSF_Shooting) March 28, 2018
It's the first ISSF medal for both the Indian and the Chinese junior shooter. The bronze medal was awarded to Thailand's 16-year-old Kanyakorn Hirunphoem, currently ranked 62nd in the world in this event. The Thai shooter - silver medallist in the Air Pistol event four days ago - finished with 26 hits and pocketed her second medal in Sydney.
A second Indian finalist - 16-year-old Manu Bhaker - was placed in 4th position with 18 hits, surviving a shoot-off at the end of the sixth series against Zhu Siying (16) of China. Zhu then took 6th place with 12 hits, while her teammate Xiao Jiaruixuan (15) was placed 5th with 14 hits, in spite of a 2-point penalty given to her for early loading.
Muskan won 25m Pistol Gold medal , Indian team won Gold and Silver . Overtake China in medal telly . @realmanubhaker finish 4th , Arunima Gaur - 7th @OGQ_India
— Sports India (@SportsIndia3) March 28, 2018
Detail - https://t.co/sJRzffeWNZ
Congrats 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/RfUew6xhyH
Finally, two first-time participants - India's 18-year-old Arunima Gaur and China's Li Xue - respectively took the 7th place with 8 hits and 8th place with 7. The top of the team podium was taken by Bhaker, Muskan and Rana, while their country-mates Gaur, Mahima Turhi Agrawal and Tanu Rawal secured silver. Thailand's Hirunphoem, Viramon Kidarn and Luxciga Srinitivoravong were placed 3rd.