London, July 30: Say it a beginning of India's march towards higher rank in Olympic medals chart, as shooter Gagan Narang clinched the bronze in the 10 metre air rifle event with an overall score of 701.1.

Moment of glory for over 1.2 billion Indians, as chances of more medals is bleak after the exit if Abhinav Bindra. Romanian shooter Alin George Moldoveanu fired a decisive 10.3 shot to clinch the Olympic men's 10 metre air rifle Gold with total 702.1 points, ahead of Italy's Niccolo Campriani on 701.5.

World number one Campriani and Moldoveanu had topped the 60-shot qualifying with a 599 total from the 600 available and retained their monopoly of the lead in the eight-man final.

Narang shot 103.1 in the final to take the bronze. Moldoveanu shot the same score as Narang in the finals - 103.1 - but clinched gold by virtue of finishing first in the qualifying round at the Royal Artillery Barracks in London on Monday.

Winner of the four gold medals in the 2010 Commonwealth Games and two silver medals in the Guangzhou Asian Games, Narang helped India win its 10th individual medal in the history of Olympics.  

The day began on sad note when Beijing Olympics gold medallist Abhinav Bindra had to exit from the London Games by failing to qualify for men's 10 metre air rifle final.

Hope with the end of medal's drought, other players will get some inspiration and much needed boost to reach podium.