President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the athletes who won medals in different competitions at the ongoing 21st Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

India took its Gold medal count to six with spectacular performances in weightlifting and shooting. A Silver and a Bronze, both in shooting, took India to third place in the overall standing with 10 medals.

Earlier today, Punam Yadav brought the fifth Gold medal for the nation in the women’s 69 kilogram category. She lifted a total of 222 kg which included 100 kg in snatch and 122 kg in clean and jerk.

Later on, Manu Bhaker comfortably won the Gold in women’s 10 air pistol while Heena Sidhu snatched the Silver in a brilliant fight with third placed Elena Galiabovitch of Australia.

Shortly afterwards, Ravi Kumar brought home the Bronze in the men’s 10m Air Rifle event.

In a series of tweets, the President praised the performances of the athletes and expressed his delight at India’s success at the games.

“GOLD to Punam Yadav in 69 Kg weightlifting…big congratulations to her..super performance by our weightlifters continues at #GC2018,”  he wrote.

“Our shooters double strike at #GC2018 Big Congratulations to Manu Bhaker for winning GOLD and to Heena Sidhu for bagging SILVER in 10m Air Pistol,” said the President in praise of the two shooters.

“Our shooters are bang on target…. Delighted to learn that Ravi Kumar has won BRONZE in the 10m Air Rifle event at #GC2018,” the President added.

GOLD to Punam Yadav in 69 Kg weightlifting…big congratulations to her..super performance by our weightlifters continues at #GC2018 #PresidentKovind

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) April 8, 2018

Our shooters double strike at #GC2018 Big Congratulations to Manu Bhaker for winning GOLD and to Heena Sidhu for bagging SILVER in 10m Air Pistol #PresidentKovind

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) April 8, 2018

Our shooters double strike at #GC2018 Big Congratulations to Manu Bhaker for winning GOLD and to Heena Sidhu for bagging SILVER in 10m Air Pistol #PresidentKovind

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) April 8, 2018

PM Modi, too, congratulated the athletes in a series of tweets.

“India congratulates Punam Yadav for winning the Gold Medal in the 69 Kg women’s weightlifting event. Her dedication towards weightlifting is truly admirable,” the PM said.

“Our shooters are distinguishing themselves at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Manu Bhaker continues her stupendous form and bags a Gold in the women’s 10m Air Pistol event. Congratulations to her,” wrote the PM in praise of the 16-year-old shooting prodigy.

“Delighted that Heena Sidhu won the Silver in the women’s 10m Air Pistol event.  Congratulations to her and best wishes for her future endeavours,” he said in a subsequent tweet.

The PM said that Kumar had made a rich contribution towards the sport.

“The promising shooter Ravi Kumar has won the Bronze in the men’s 10m Air Rifle event. Every Indian takes pride in his accomplishment. This young shooter has made a rich contribution towards sports,” he wrote.

India congratulates Punam Yadav for winning the Gold Medal in the 69 Kg women’s weightlifting event. Her dedication towards weightlifting is truly admirable: PM @narendramodi #GC2018 pic.twitter.com/cdVj0jr6WD

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 8, 2018

Our shooters are distinguishing themselves at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Manu Bhaker continues her stupendous form and bags a Gold in the women’s 10m Air Pistol event. Congratulations to her: PM @narendramodi #GC2018 pic.twitter.com/Srqozik5nu

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 8, 2018

Our shooters are distinguishing themselves at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Manu Bhaker continues her stupendous form and bags a Gold in the women’s 10m Air Pistol event. Congratulations to her: PM @narendramodi #GC2018 pic.twitter.com/Srqozik5nu

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 8, 2018

Our shooters are distinguishing themselves at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Manu Bhaker continues her stupendous form and bags a Gold in the women’s 10m Air Pistol event. Congratulations to her: PM @narendramodi #GC2018 pic.twitter.com/Srqozik5nu

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 8, 2018

Bhaker shot 240.9 to break the Commonwealth Games record, finishing well ahead of her senior teammate Sidhu, who aggregated 234. Ravi shot a total of 224.1 to finish behind Australian Dane Sampson (245) and Bangladesh’s Abdullah Hel Baki (244.7), who won the gold and silver, respectively at the Belmont Shooting Centre here.