Only shooting can bring India to fore: Manavjit

The 2nd Indian to win a gold in world shooting championships, said the country can grab limelight in international events only through the heroics of shooters.

Manavjit Singh Sandhu, only the second Indian to win a gold medal in world shooting championships, on Wednesday said the country could grab the limelight in international sporting events only through the heroics of the shooters.

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"We have been saying this all these years that shooting is number one sport and today we have proved that in the upcoming events, shooting will only bring India to the fore," Manavjit told reporters on his return from Zagreb, Croatia via Italy.

Manavjit won the individual gold medal and the team silver, aided by Mansher Singh and Anwer Sultarn, in men's trap event at the World shooting Championships after ace rifle shooter Abhinav Bindra created history by clinching the first gold for the country.

The Chandigarh lad, who was a clear winner with the score of 143 (121+22), said he was aware that he was in contention after a series of consistent performances at the international level this year so far.

"I have been more consistent this year in whichever international tournaments I have taken part, whether it is world cup or Commonwealth Games. I was in the final in all the competitions. It was there in my mind," he said.

Manavjit, who won the silver and an Olympic quota place for India in the recent world cup at Kerville, USA, had returned with the bronze medal in the Melbourne Commonwealth Games and finished sixth in Cairo.

India has reaped a rich haul of three gold medals one silver and two bronze in the ongoing competition.