Universal delight over Saina Nehwal’s bronze medal notwithstanding, it is the shooters who succoured India’s hopes of matching the Beijing medals tally at London right through the otherwise dismal first week.

Gagan Narang won a bronze in the 10m air rifle, Vijay Kumar a silver in the 25m rapid fire pistol and with a little luck, Joydeep Karmarkar, who narrowly finished 4th in the 50m prone could have been in the medal-winners list too.