India’s ever increasing presence in the world shooting stage can be epitomised by Gagan Narang becoming World Number 1 in 10 metre Air Rifle.Narang won gold in the World Cup just after the Commonwealth Games as well. What’s more, he is just 22. Reports DNA:

Narang recently won a gold in the same event at the ISSF World Cup in Guangzhou and booked a berth in the Beijing Olympics. The feat propelled him to a whopping 18 places in the rankings and he becomes third Indian shooter after Anjali Bhagwat and Rajyavardhan Rathore to reach the top spot in the world.

India performced commendably in the Commonwealth Games (The Sportstarhad a good review which can be read here) and the Shooting World Cup. Samaresh Jung has called for liberal policies for importing shooting equipment needed. The government has already been encouraging after Rathore won silver in the Olympics in double trap as mentioned here.

The shooters are here. They cannot be ignored any longer. It is very heartening to see.

Bulgarian Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski’s years of hardwork have finally reaped fruit. The pair won the ice dancing Gold in the World Figure Skating Championships. The couple have been a team since 1996. Denkova had a word to say about the judging in the Torino Games as well.

Reports CNN:

We skated well in the Olympics and we are pleased this time the decision of the judges they looked differently on us and our programs. We didn’t change any thing from the Olympics.

I am glad the pair have a quality reward for years of effort.