India proud to see national flag flying high at CWG 18

Terming India`s performance at the ongoing Commonwealth Games a `fantastic start`, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Sunday hailed the country`s immense potentials.

India has so far bagged six gold, two silver and three bronze medals to take the fourth sport in countries medal tally.

"It`s a fantastic start. We feel happy to see medals coming in and women athletes leading.

When our flag flies high, it`s a proud moment for all Indians. We have a lot of potentials and it needs to be tapped, " Rathore told ANI.

India started Day 4 of the quadrennial event with Punam Yadav`s gold in women`s 69kg weightlifting event. The Glasgow edition bronze-medallist won the event with a combined lift of 222kg (100kg+122kg).Yadav`s celebration was followed by celebrations at her city in Varanasi.

"She has always worked hard and deserves the medal," family of Yadav said.Apart from her, Yadav 16-year-old Manu Bhaker also bagged a gold medal in women`s 10m Air Pistol finals event and took India`s gold medal tally to six.

Seasoned campaigner Heena Sidhu claimed silver in the same event.After Sidhu`s glory, her mother Rominder Kaur Sidhu thanked God for blessing her daughter with such strength."I am very happy. My daughter has made our city and the entire nation proud. I am thankful to God that he blessed my daughter with such glory," Heena`s mother said.

Another shooter Ravi Kumar bagged a bronze medal in the Men`s 10m Air Rifle, taking India`s tally to ten.Indian weightlifters continued their medal rush at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games as Vikas Thakur won a bronze to gift India its eighth medal in the sport.

Earlier, weightlifters Venkat Rahul Ragala and Sathish Kumar Sivalingam clinched a gold medal in the men`s 85 kg category and 77 kg category respectively.Other gold medals have come from weightlifters Sanjita Chanu and Saikhom Mirabai Chanu in the 53 kg category and 48 kg category respectively.