Sift Kaur Samra and Jonathan Anthony clinch gold at 38th National Games

Dehradun: Punjab’s Sift Kaur Samra and Karnataka’s Jonathan Anthony secured gold medals in their respective shooting events at the 38th National Games, held at Maharana Pratap Sports College on Monday.

Sift Kaur Samra, an Asian Games gold medallist, showcased her exceptional skills in the women’s 50m 3 positions event, scoring an impressive 461.2 points to claim the gold medal. The 23-year-old, who had missed the finals at the Paris Olympics, expressed her joy at making a strong comeback. "This win is special because I never took a break after the Olympics and kept training. It feels like a comeback for me," Samra shared in a statement.

Joining her on the podium was fellow Punjab shooter Anjum Moudgil, who secured silver with 458.7 points, while Telangana’s Surabhi Bhardwaj Rapole took bronze with a score of 448.8.

Moudgil, a two-time World Championship silver medallist, praised Samra’s performance, saying, "This is the third National Games where we've shared the podium. She’s an exceptional shooter, and I’ve always admired her."

In the men’s 10m pistol event, Karnataka’s Jonathan Anthony delivered a stellar performance to secure gold. He maintained his composure in a highly competitive final, overcoming experienced opponents. SSCB’s Ravinder Singh claimed silver, while Gurpreet Singh settled for bronze.

"I'm thrilled with this victory. Competing against shooters who have represented India at the highest level makes this even more meaningful. Everything fell into place today, and I’m proud of the result," said Anthony.