Photographs: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Rediff Sports Desk
India finished a creditable fifth with 64 medals, including 15 gold, at the 20th Commonwealth Games, even as a couple of officials embarrassed the contingent by their antics.
Here's a look at India’s gold brigade.
Parupalli Kashyap etched his name firmly in the history books by becoming the first Indian male shuttler in 32 years to win a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games.
"In this kind of big game to win gold is a big deal for me. It's like a dream. I have dreamt of this since I was a child," Kashyap said, after clinching gold with a 21-14, 11-21, 21-19 win over Derek Wong of Singapore in the final of men's singles.
"I'm so happy. This championship means a lot to me. These Games come every four years and that's what drove me on.
"I knew when I came into the tournament I wanted the gold medal. I have not played up to my ability, but I've made it through. I am just so happy for myself and for my country," he added.
The 27-year-old shuttler from Hyderabad, who won a bronze in the last edition of the Games in Delhi and reached the quarter-finals of the London Olympics, said he finally broke the jinx by reaching the final of a multi-discipline event.
Asked about his goals for the future, Kashyap replied: "I have got four or five years left in me and now I want to win big medals and big championships."
Kashyap joined badminton legend Prakash Padukone and the late Syed Modi, who won the title in the past.
While Padukone won the men's singles gold at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Canada, Modi retained for India it four years later.
Medals tally: 2014 Commonwealth Games
Complete coverage of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games
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Image: Dipika Pallikal (left) and Joshana Chinappa of India celebrate with their gold medalsPhotographs: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Joshana Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal combined brilliantly to clinch the coveted gold medal in the women's doubles final and give India their first squash medal in the Commonwealth Games.
The pair outplayed Jenny Duncalf and Laura Massaro of England, winning 11-6, 11-8 on the 10th day of competition.
It is India's first squash medal at the Commonwealth Games.
Joshana admitted that they always respected their opponents and took one game at a time.
"We were always taking it one match at a time because all the players are really good. A lot of them have been medallists previously," said Joshana after the win.
Dipika hopes the victory will help give squash a push in India.
"We are really excited, not only for us but for Indian squash in general. We have been in the shadows for a very long time and hopefully this can open up to a lot of girls," she said.
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Image: Babita Kumari of India celebrates winning the gold medal in the women's freestyle 55kg wrestlingPhotographs: Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Wrestler Babita Kumari put on a stunning show to beat Canada's Brittanee Laverdure in the final and win the gold medal in the women's 55kg freestyle category.
The 24-year-old, who won the silver in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, got a 9-2 verdict against the 32-year-old Brittanee.
Babita dominated most of the proceedings and it was only in the last 15 seconds that Brittanne could open her scoring.
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Image: Yogeshwar Dutt celebrates after beating Jevon Balfour of Canada to win gold in the men's 65kg freestyle wrestlingPhotographs: PTI
Olympics bronze medalist Yogeshwar Dutt won gold for India in the men's 65kg freestyle wrestling.
He hardly broke sweat en route to his triumph, using his trademark 'fitele' (leg-twisting) technique to great effect.
Yogeshwar first beat Alex Gladkov of Scotland 4-0 and then easily defeated another Scottish wrestler, Gareth Jones, in the quarter-finals by employing the same leg-twisting technique he used while winning bronze in the London Olympics.
In the semi-finals, he successfully used his favourite technique again to get the better of Sri Lanka's Chamara Perera 5-0 in just two minutes and three seconds, after taking a 10-0 lead on technical points.
He continued his dominance in the final and made light work of Canadia's Jevon Balfour to clinch the gold medal in just 1:53 seconds.
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Image: Vikas Shive Gowda of India celebrates winning gold in the men's discus throw finalPhotographs: Paul Gilham/Getty Images
India’s US-based Vikas Gowda lit up the mood by pocketing the gold in the men's discuss throw with an effort of 63.64m, way below his personal best effort of 66.28m, under incessant rain at the Hampden Park.
Gowda, who won a silver in the 2010 Delhi Games, registered his best effort in his third attempt, though it was way below his personal best as well as season's best effort of 65.62m.
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Image: Sushil KumarPhotographs: PTI Photos
Two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar spearheaded a sparkling show as India's grapplers dominated the wrestling arena.
The 31-year-old asserted his class as he won his all four bouts quite comfortably.
In the gold medal bout against Qamar Abbas of Pakistan, he had it easy. Even before one could blink, the contest was over as the Indian pinned down his opponent to clinch the gold with a 8-0 scoreline in under two minutes.
In no time, Sushil raced to a 6-0 lead and added two more points, straight away finishing off the contest.
Sushil was competing under the new weight class of 74kg for the second time after the world body re-jigged the weight categories ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. He had won a silver at the International Freestyle Championship in Sassari, Italy, before the Glasgow Games.
He said he did not face any problems while competing in the new category.
"I had no problem which shifting to the new weight category. Today I did not have any problems in any bout today.
"It was an easy final bout for me and I feel happy to have added another gold in the Commonwealth Games," Sushil, who had won his first Commonwealth Games gold at the 2010 Delhi edition in the 66kg category, said after his bout.
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Image: Amit KumarPhotographs: PTI Photos
Wrestler Amit Kumar won the yellow metal in men's 57kg wrestling.
He defeated Ebikweminomo Welson of Nigeria 6-2 in his final bout.
The 20-year-old Indian started off well and completely dominated the first round, winning it 4-0.
The Nigerian, however, fought back and the two wrestlers gave each other a tough time in the next round, each bagging two points.
However, due to four points in his kitty already from the opening round, the Indian youngster prevailed.
"I have won gold and I feel really good. It's my first Commonwealth Games. I am definitely aiming for the Rio 2016 Olympics," he said.
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Image: Vinesh PhogatPhotographs: PTI Photos
Vinesh Phogat finished on top in the women's 48kg wrestling.
In what turned out to be a close battle against England's Yana Rattigan in the final, the Indian won 11-8.
Vinesh was down 2-4 in the first round and faced a tough challenge from her English opponent. However, she earned two points to tie it at 4-4 before putting her opponent down again and bag another two just in time to wrap up the opening round 6-4.
The second round was also a fierce contest but the Indian maintained her composure to earn the second gold for the country in wrestling.
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Image: Silver medalist Gurpal Singh and gold medalist Jitu Rai celebrate on the podium after the men's 50m Pistol Shooting finalPhotographs: Francois Nel/Getty Images
India's Jitu Rai, who won the 50m pistol shooting gold, revealed he was confident of winning the yellow metal even before he landed in Glasgow.
"I have gold and silver in the World Cup and the field here was not strong. So, before coming here, I knew that I would win a gold. I am happy that I have won gold in the Commonwealth Games too," said Rai, who is now with the 11 Gorkha Regiment at Mhow.
"I was never nervous and I took it easy. My planning while in India was to take it easy," he added.
The gold was also Rai's first on debut.
Rai, born in Nepal's Sankhuwasabha district, migrated to India and joined the army in 2006.
Last month he became the first Indian to win two medals in a single World Cup competition, even before he completed two years in the international circuit.
"I am feeling really happy to have added a Commonwealth Games gold in my career. It is just an immense feeling. I'm very happy with this, my first gold medal. I was expecting this result since I have done well in the World Cup," he said.
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Image: Sathish SivalingamPhotographs: PTI Photos
For weightlifter Satish Kumar Sivalingam, the gold in the Commonwealth Games was a life-changing experience as he has fulfilled his parents' dream of seeing their son winning the top prize in the multi-sporting event.
Sivalingam scripted history on debut at the Commonwealth Games, breaking the Games record en route to a gold medal, while compatriot Ravi Katulu took the silver in the men's 77kg event.
The 22-year-old Satish, the 2013 Commonwealth Championships gold medallist, lifted a total of 328kg (149+179) to pip the 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ravi, who had to be content with a silver medal following an effort of 317kg (142+175).
The 22-year-old Satish, a Southern Railway employee, said his parents would have been disappointed had he not won a gold after four years of intensive training.
"It (winning the gold) is life's turning point. I have realised my dream of becoming a Commonwealth gold medal. It was four years of hard work and expectation. My parents were telling people of my village in Vellore district that I will win a gold medal at the Games. I have fulfilled their dreams," he said.
"I am from a poor family and my father was in the army in a small post. He played at the National Championships but failed to make win a medal at the international level. He wanted me to win a medal in a big international event," he added.
Satish lifted a Games record 149kg en route to winning the gold and asked about it, he said.
"I had lifted more than the record only once in my career and that too in Birmingham while training."
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Image: Abhinav BindraPhotographs: PTI Photos
It was a memorable swansong at the Commonwealth Games for Abhinav Bindra as the ace marksman bagged the 10m Air Rifle gold medal after a gripping finale.
The cynosure of the day certainly was the 31-year-old Bindra, who finally won an individual gold at the quadrennial extravaganza which had eluded him on four previous attempts.
Bindra, who has already won nine medals including three gold in pairs events, was calmness personified as he did not put a foot wrong in the final round, having finishing third in the qualifications at the Barry Buddon Shooting Centre,Dundee.
Bindra, first Indian Olympic individual gold medallist, shot an aggregate of 205.3 to set a Games Record.
"This is my last Commonwealth Games. Five Commonwealth Games and nine medals, it is enough for me," Bindra said.
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Image: Apurvi Chandela celebrates winning the gold medal in the women's 10m Air Rifle shootingPhotographs: Paul Gilham/Getty Images
Young Apurvi Chandela helped India win its second gold from the shooting range, winning the 10m Air Rifle event.
Chandela, 21, led from the beginning to finish top with a score of 206.7, while Ayonika Paul finished a creditable second with 204.9 points.
It was only fitting that the Jaipur girl, who started shooting only six years back after watching Abhinav Bindra win gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, won in the ace shooter's pet event.
Chandela, whose father has built a shooting range at home, trains under her uncle, Hem Singh.
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Image: Gold medalist Rahi Sarnobat (left) and silver medalist Anisa Sayyed celebrate at the end of the women's 25m Air Pistol shootingPhotographs: Paul Gilham/Getty Images
Rahi Sarnobat clinched a gold medal in women's 25m Air Pistol event.
The 23-year-old, who had lost to Sayyed in the gold medal match at Delhi 2010 four years ago, said: "In the last Commonwealth Games she (Sayyed) had the gold and I got silver, so this time it's the other way around and it's even nicer that both the medals went to India.
"The approach of India to shooting has changed -- we have Olympic medals as well as Commonwealth medals. We train in better venues, have good coaches and I think that reflects in our shooting," she added.
Asked about her mental preparation, she said, "I'm sure about one thing; it's better to shoot technically rather than emotionally. Every time!"
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Image: Sukhen Dey competes in the Clean and Jerk on his way to winning the gold medal in the men's 56kg weightliftingPhotographs: Paul Gilham/Getty Images
Sukhen Dey and Ganesh Mali bagged the first and third position in the men's 56kg weightlifting to cap a remarkable day opening day for India.
The 25-year-old Dey lifted a total of 248kg (109+139) after trailing at the halfway snatch stage, but came back strongly in clean and jerk to win the gold.
He had also won a silver in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games besides bagging a gold in the 2013 Commonwealth Championships in November.
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Image: Gold medalist Sanjita Chanu Khumukcham of India (centre), silver medalist Nikechi Opara of Nigeria (right) and bronze medalist Mirabai Chanu Saikhom of IndiaPhotographs: Paul Gilham/Getty Images
Sanjita Chanu and Saikhom Mirabai Chanu opened India's campaign on a flying note by winning a gold and silver respectively in the women's 48kg weightlifting.
It was basically a contest between the two Manipuri lifters in an event India had dominated for long in the Commonwealth Games from the days of Kunjarani Devi.
It was a display of overwhelming domination in the 48kg women's weightlifting by the Indians, as apart from Sanjita's gold, S Mirabai Chanu bagged the silver medal to make it a one-two for last edition's hosts.
In the women's 48kg weightlifting, Sanjita won with a total lift of 173kg (77+96), while Mirabai grabbed the silver with a cumulative effort of 170 (75+95) in the absence of other strong competitors.
Kunjarani, now a women's coach, was beside the two state mates on the platform, egging Sanjita and Mirabai on. India had won a silver and bronze in this category in 2010.
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