It turned out to be a disappointing day for Indian shooters with the pair of Tejaswini Sawant and Meena Kumari missing out on a gold by just one point to settle for a bronze in the 19th Commonwealth Games in New Delhi on Monday.
Even in the skeet event, the Indian pair of Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Allan Daniel Peoples finished a disappointing final as the country had to be content with only one bronze medal in shooting at Karni Singh Shooting Range.
The first Indian woman to win a World Championship, Tejaswini was done in by pressure as she along with her team-mate Meena Kumari faltered by just one point in the women's 50 metres rifle prone.
The Scottish duo of Jen McIntosh and Kay Copland clinched the gold in the shoot-off against the English pair of Michelle Smith and Sharon Lee after they were locked on 1169.
World champion Tejaswini shot 583, two less than Meena Kumari as the duo shot 1168, in a heartbreaking miss by one point.
"I got over conscious because I didn't want to commit any mistake. Even my coach told me that I was getting over conscious," Tejaswini said.
The Kolhapur girl had earlier won silver in pairs 50m rifle 3 position along with Lajja Goswami.
"Honestly, I am feeling a little bad on losing by just one point. We both are good shooters with very high personal scores. Even our normal performance would have fetched a gold," a dejected Tejaswini said.
Tejaswini had won a gold medal at the World Championships in Munich in August.
"Obviously, I will train because the disappointment and sadness I am going through now, needs to be covered up. I have to get my rhythm back," Tejaswini said.
"I read motivational books whenever I get time in between. It improves concentration and inspires me. My favourite author is Shivaji Sawant," she said.
Her partner Meena Kumari was equally disappointed.
"I am not happy that I got bronze because the difference in the scores of the winning teams was only one point. That's why I am feeling all the more bad.
"I lost my rhythm in between, so that delayed my shots. I feel I made a mistake. Now, I want to train so that I don't repeat my mistakes in tomorrow's match," Meena Kumari said.
In the second event of the day, the skeets duo of Khan (94) and Peoples (92) finished fifth.
Cyprus duo of Georgios Achilleos and Andreas Chasikos equalled Games record of 194 to claim the gold.
Canada and England took the silver and bronze respectively.
