A protest filed by the South Africans against Hungarian-born Canadian Metodi Igorov, winner of the individual rapid fire pistol event, could elevate Dhaka to silver.

Young Manavjit Singh still riding the high of a Pairs gold, which he won in the company of Mansher Singh, got the first taste of pressure in a major final. And though he did not win a medal, he came close to getting himself into a tie-shoot for the bronze. Mansher, unfortunately, failed even to qualify for the finals.

A missed bird on the very last shot in the final round, where only the top six shoot, cost Manavjit the chance. He missed twice in the last six shots, including the last one for a 22 in the final 25. In the morning,Manavjit Singh lying fourth after 75 shots with a score of 72, as against leader Michael Diamond's 73, added 46 to be on 118, as did Desmond Coe, Kelly Benjamin and Brant Woodward of New Zealand. Woodward got left out of the final six on countback.

South Africa has lodged a protest against Igorov's citizenship status. In a statement released by the South Africans, they said they found that Igorov did not comply with the ISSF (International Shooting Sport Federation) and Commonwealth Games Federation rules on both his citizenship and resident status. Under ISSF rules, a shooter needs to be a citizen for at least three years before he or she can represent a country. This ruling had come in the way of former Russian world champion, Irina Maharani representing Malaysia at these Games.

The South Africans, whose representative Allan Mc Donald won silver with 669.7 points, said they learnt of Igorodov's citizenship status only after the event had started. The medal ceremony has been held over as the jury isexpected to deliver its decision on Saturday afternoon.

The reigning world double trap champion Michael Diamond of Australia won the gold in the men's individual trap final with 144 birds. Though he had the same score as the silver medallist and European champion, Ian Peel of England, Diamond was the winner after the eight tie-break shot. The bronze went to Desmond Coe of New Zealand with 141 birds, who also won a tie-shoot with Robert Borsely of England.

Manavjit Singh was fifth with 140 and Kelly Benjamin who shot a horrible 17 in the final 25 was sixth with 135.

Results

MEN: INDIVIDUAL TRAP: FINAL: 1. Michael Diamond (AUS) 144.0 (GR); 2. Ian R.Peel (ENG) 144.0; 3. Desmond Coe (NZL) 141. 5. MANAVJIT SINGH (IND) 140. (Mansher Singh (117) ninth in the qualifying; did not make the final, where only top six go through. Manavjit Singh was sixth with 118).

FREE RIFLE PRONE FINAL: 1. Stephen Petterson (NZL) 697.4; 2. David Moore (IOM) 694.6; 3. Gavin Van Rhyn (RSA) 694.1. (A.P.Subbiah (588)15th in the qualifying; T.C.Pallangappa (573) 34th in the qualifying. Both did not make the eight man final).

RAPID FIRE PISTOL FINAL: 1. Metodi Igorov (CAN) 674.8 (New GR); 2. Allan Mc Donald (RSA) 669.7; 3. BHANWAR DHAKA (IND) 668.9. (Ajab Rao (553) was 14th in qualifying; did not make the final top eight).

WOMEN: INDIVIDUAL AIR RIFLE: 1. Nurul Huda Baharin (MAS) 494.8 (New GR); 2. Sharon Bowes (CAN) 493.3; 3. Louise Minett (ENG) 491.7; 7. ANUJA TERE (IND) 485.2. (ANJALI VEDPATHAK (383) WAS 12TH in the qualifying and did not make the final for which top eight qualified).