Palembang,

Apurvi Chandela and Ravi Kumar gave India its first medal of the 2018 Asian Games as the duo finished third in the 10m rifle mixed team event here today.  The Indians aggregated 429.9 after 42 shots in the 48-shot final and were in second spot for major part of the final before China overtook them to take the silver. The strong Chinese pairing of Ruozhu Zhao and Haoran Yang ended with a score of 492.5. Chinese Taipei’s Yingshin Lin and Shaochuan Lu claimed the gold, scoring 494.1. South Korea and Mongolia finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the event held for the first time at the Games. It was a maiden Asian Games medal for Chandela, who will be aiming for a better show in the individual 10m air rifle event.  World Cup bronze medallist Ravi, who is mentored by Abhinav Bindra, had won a men’s 10m rifle team bronze at the last edition. “Our best finish together was fourth at the World Cup and we have improved on that,” Chandela said. “My first Asian Games medal. I am really happy about that.” There was disappointment in store for the pistol mixed team of teen sensation Manu Bhaker and Abhishek Verma, who failed to qualify for the finals.