Milestone of India - Commonwealth Games - Gagan's gold rush continues.

FOUR AND COUNTING:Gagan Narang struck gold for the fourth time

by taking the rifle 3-position title on Saturday.

NEW DELHI: Gagan Narang stayed on course for a record gold haul in the Commonwealth Games, as he defended his 3-position rifle individual title by renewing two of his own records on Saturday.

It was the fourth gold for the 27-year-old Narang in the current edition, and eight in all as India took its tally from the shooting range to 12 gold, seven silver and two bronze medals.

Narang started the final with a score of 1166, a two-point lead over Jonathan Hammond of Scotland and ended up with a 6.9 point margin, despite a below par seventh shot. Compatriot Imran Hasan Khan had the chance to get the bronze, but was beaten squarely by James Huckle of Scotland eventually by 2.5 points.

Narang looked set to break the National record of 1172 set by Sanjeev Rajput during the Commonwealth Championship in February, but a score of 382 in kneeling that included a last card of 92, brought the score down, and gave hope for the Scot.

Narang will have two more events in rifle prone to meet his target of six gold medals. With Warren Potent of Australia in the fray, it may not be easy, but Narang will be determined to retain his 100 per cent golden strike rate in the Games.

There was a second gold for the host in shooting, as Vijay Kumar and Harpreet Singh won the centre fire pistol pairs event with a 19-point margin over New Zealand. It was the third gold for Vijay following his exploits in his favourite rapid fire pistol event. He will be keen to add the individual gold in centre fire pistol on the morrow.

Bronze for Shirur

There was a bronze from the women's air rifle team of Suma Shirur (397) and Kavitha Yadav (388). Kavitha, competing in her second international competition, after being blooded in the World Championship in Munich, had a series of 98, 98, 95 and 97. India snatched the bronze medal by a one-point margin over Wales and Bangladesh.

There was hope at the trap range, as Shreyasi Singh was a point behind Anita North of England, going into the final. But the 19-year-old Indian girl, who had bagged a silver in the Commonwealth Championship, failed to master the single-shot final, and missed 10 birds, and subsequently lost the shoot-off for the fifth place.

In men's trap, Mansher Singh (74) and Manavjit Singh Sandhu (73) stayed among the leaders after three rounds. Martin Davis of South Africa led with 75, while Aaron Heading of England had 74. The hero of the team event, two-time Olympic champion Michael Diamond shot 72, after a flawless 100 on Friday. There will be two more rounds, followed by the final on Sunday.