CWG 2014: 'Faulty lights' cost Harpreet gold in shooting

Shooter Harpreet Singh blasted the 'faulty lighting system' at the Barry Buddon Centre, saying it cost him the gold medal since the penalty he copped due to a delayed shot was a result of that defect. Harpreet had to be content with a silver in the 25m rapid fire pistol.

Shooter Harpreet Singh blasted the "faulty lighting system" at the Barry Buddon Centre, saying it cost him the gold medal since the penalty he copped due to a delayed shot was a result of that defect. Harpreet had to be content with a silver in the 25m rapid fire pistol.

"There was problem in the lighting system. Because of the faulty lighting, the first shot was delayed and because of that my fifth shot was out of time and I was docked a penalty point. That made the difference. Had it not been for that, I would have been in a better position to win the gold," a visibly disappointed Harpreet said.

"I made a complaint but the judges said it was ok. So I cannot do anything. There was pressure on me after that."

A shooter gets four seconds after the red light on the target turns green. The six-shooter final had eight rounds of five shots each.

Disaster struck Harpreet in the sixth round. He was leading by two hits then but could get two hits and was docked a penalty of one hit on account of 'out of time' ruled by the judge. After that dreadful round, the Indian Navy employee got just one legal hit.

Asked about Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar failing to qualify for the final round, Harpreet said, "It was a disappointment for India. His presence gave me confidence. Unlucky for him."

In the men's 50m rifle three position, Gagan Narang failed to defend his gold but managed to win a bronze while compatriot Sanjeev Rajput clinched the silver.