Sarabjot Singh, Divya Thadigol win India's first gold medal at ISSF World Cup, Baku

Rhythm Sangwan opened the medal account for India by winning silver in women's 10m air pistol.

India's Sarabjot Singh and Divya Thadigol Subbaraju defeated the experienced Serbian pair of Zorana Arunovic and Damir Mikec 16-14 to claim the gold medal in 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event at the Shooting ISSF World Cup held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

This is India's first gold medal at the ongoing ISSF World Cup and second overall after Rhythm Sangwan's bronze in the women's 10m air pistol event on May 10 (Wednesday).

The Indian duo notched up an impressive qualifying score of 581/600 to cement their place in the final (gold medal match). The other Indian mixed team in the fray, Esha Singh and Varun Tomar, finished a credible sixth by scoring 578 points.

In the final, Sarabjot/Divya started well by taking the early lead of two points (6-4). Soon after, the Serbian pair bounced back and won three back-to-back series claiming six points to go ahead 10-6, with the match tilting in their favour. The young and inexperienced Indian pair fought back hard and won three consecutive series and once again took the lead at 12-10.

After the end of the penultimate series (14), the scores were tied at 14-14. India scored 20.5 in the last series while the Serbian pair managed only 18.9. In the end, the Indian mixed team pair Sarabjot/Divya held their nerve against the experienced Serbians to win India's first gold medal at the ISSF World Cup.

Meanwhile, Sarabjot Singh started the proceedings yesterday by topping the qualification round scoring a record 589 in the men's 10m air pistol event. The gold medallist in the Bhopal World Cup finished in the fourth spot in the final. In the women's section, Rhythm Sangwan won the bronze medal in women’s 10m air pistol finishing behind former Olympic champions Anna Korakaki and Olena Kostevych. Esha Singh, 18, also made the final, but ended up on the sixth spot.

The ISSF World Cup has reverted back to its old format, with the semi-finals stage getting eliminated.