Jaspal Rana strode the Lusail Shooting Range like a colossus and did the country proud, once again, by equalling the world record in 25m centre fire pistol to earn two more gold medals and, in the process, become the only Indian marksman to script three triumphs in an edition of the Asian Games here today.

Rana shot 590 to equal the World record and was three point ahead of his close rival Liu Guohui of China who shot 587 while Thailand's Jakkrit took the bronze in 586.

In the team event Rana, Vijay Kumar and Samresh Jung also equalled World and Asian record as they aggregated 1748 for the gold, Korea 1738 won the silver and China took the bronze with 1735.

The 30-year old shooter is the only second Indian to have won gold in the Asian Games after Randhir Singh and the only one to have won the gold twice in the extravaganza. He now has four Asiad gold in his kitty, three from here and one from Hiroshima (1994).

Rana, who was on the verge of retiring from the sport and planning to migrate to Australia, gave a stunning display in the 25m centre fire pistol event to win the individual and team gold and spoil the Chinese party.

As is his wont, he rewrote record books for the second day running to end the Indian shooting team's campaign on a high note.

The Indian shooters claimed a haul of 14 medals (three gold, five silver and six bronze) - the country's best show so far in the games. Indian contingent had only two silvers to show in Busan.

Rana, thus enabled Indian tri-colour to go up twice, on the last day in the ranges with his phenomenal showing.

He shot 294 in precision and 296 in rapid. His precision series ran 98, 98, 98 while in rapid he shot 100, 98, 98.

Vijay Kumar who finished ninth in the field of 48 shooters shot 580, which included 286 (96, 95, 95) in precision and 294 (97, 98, 99) in rapid.

Samresh Jung was placed 12th - with 578. In precision, he had 287 (95, 95, 97) and 291 in rapid (96, 95, 100).

"I am thrilled, feeling as if on the top of the world," said an overjoyed Rana. "I gave my best and I am happy that I got the reward. It feels wonderful to be the only Indian to have won three gold in the Asian Games shooting and overall four gold.

The title holders first spanked Bangladesh 40-21 and then prevailed over Japan 44-25 to keep themselves on course for a fifth gold medal in the Games history.

The Indians managed three bonus points in the first half against the East Asians and were leading 29-11 at half-time.

They got a bonus point in the second session to wrap up the match quite comfortably at the Aspire Sports Academy.

India have won the kabaddi gold medal each time since the sport was first introduced in the Asian Games in 1990.

Bangladesh have been runners-up three times.

In the morning, the India-Bangladesh match looked like getting close as India managed to lead only 9-8 at one stage in the first half. But Bangladeshi raiders rapidly succumbed to the sharp responses of India's defenders and soon found themselves out of action.

With 18 out points, four bonuses, and two lonas, India stretched their lead at half time to 24-14.

In the second half, India dominated and ran out comfortable winners.

An elated coach Balwan Singh said, "It was good to start the campaign on a winning note. We were confident of victory but our players became a bit complacent and the defence conceded some points."

Earlier, their traditional rivals Pakistan also got off to a fine start, defeating Japan 34-16 in another round-robin game.

Japan struggled throughout the first half, scoring sporadic points as their raiders failed to make an impact, while Pakistan's defence continued to successfully hunt in packs.

With 18 out points, one bonus point and four lonas, Pakistan went into the half-time with a commanding 236 lead.

After the break, they slowed down to conserve energy.

Locals say it has never rained like this here before and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al Thani, regularly prays to the rain gods to give some succour to his scorched land.

Nobody knows whether or not the Emir's prayers were answered on Friday evening, but the way it rained all evening, everyone would have wanted the downpour to stop -- just for a couple of hours.

Undoubtedly, this is the biggest sporting spectacle the country has ever seen. And being at the mercy of nature after immaculate preparation and hard work was hard to stomach. There was the Tanoura dance in traditional Egyptian style, and the raising of the national Flag.

And as the host country athletes entered with the Qatari Flag, the giant electronic screen exploded with life. Yet, it could not raise the spirits of those drenched and sitting inside the stadium.

A beautifully choreographed sequence where the seeker prepares to set sail with the pearl divers to hunt for "The tears of the moon" enthralled one and all.

The entire scene was so emotionally displayed -- the mother, sister and the Seekers' betrothed, Nura bidding the Seeker farewell -- that it brought tears to all those watching it live and around Asia on their televisions.

In a beautiful aerial under-water bal let, 18 pearl divers descended on ropes to collect glowing pearls from the ocean bed and returned to their boats.

Another sequence depicted a storm threatening to engulf the divers' tiny boats. Clouds rolled in, thunder struck and the waves started to build.

Nets were lowered to create huge projection screens on which strange bioluminescent sea creatures moved around.

Finally, the saga ended with the Golden Falcon from the Seekers' boyhood dreams remembering his old friend and sweeping down to rescue him from the churning sea.

The Wonders of Asia attempted to evoke the vast and hybrid continent through music, with dancers from Kazakhstan, India (Kathakali), Thailand and Bali (Indonesia) putting up an extravagant show.

Yet another sequence brought the spectators back to the modern age with flames from oil rigs, lapping up in the sky, and a blueprint of the futuristic city skyline being displayed on gigantic monitors.

For India, women's hockey captain hockey Jyoti Sunita Kullu carried the tricolour after some controversy when the Doha Games officials wanted the Indians to prune down their contingent for the opening ceremony .