Bindra, Charan claim gold

Abhinav Bindra and Charan Singh shot gold on the opening day of the fourth Commonwealth shooting championships on Friday to give the Indian campaign an auspicious start.

Bindra and Charan won the 10m Air Rifle pair event at the Bisley shooting range in England.

Immediately after his event, Bindra left for Munich to participate in the World Cup finals, where he is the lone Indian in the fray among the world's top eight shooters.

He will return to Bisley after the World Cup to continue his campaign in the individual events of the Commonwealth championships.

Sports Minister Uma Bharti congratulated Bindra on his achievement in Bisley and sent him her best wishes for a similar performance in Munich.

"I wish him all the best and we look forward to his winning the medal in the World Cup also," Bharti said in a message.