Results that kept pouring in through the day were hardly encouraging: a straight game loss to China in men's volleyball; a 7-0 pounding by Korea in women's football; eighth place among eight teams in women's 4x200 freestyle relay; ninth place in men's free pistol; 16th, 27th and 35th places in women's Air Rifle, losses in judo and seventh and last place in women's weightlifting and the same placing in men's lifting. Amidst this a 2-3 loss to Turkmenistan in men's football even began looking good.

So in such a situation, when the Touch Screen Computer System suddenly shows a medal for India, itnot only seems a cruel joke but sends the media contingent into a tailspin. The tally showed a bronze medal for India, and on close examination the system showed it came from women's Air Rifle team event. But the printed, official result sheets showed the Indians Anuja Tere, Suma Dixit and Anjali Vedpathak in individual 16th, 27th and 35th places and their combined team placing as eighth.

So as all Indians were preparing for a quiet night, there came news of the medal `granted' to India by the computer system. Suddenly there were frantic calls all over: did the officials at the range bungle and our girls shoot a medal-worth score?

The IOA officials when contacted at the Village were not available, they were in the dinning hall. Finally, when they were available, poor Sandeep Mehta, media co-ordinater, began sounding worried and looked at his results sheets once again and recited it over the phone twice.

So, that officially settled the issue. But even as we were all leaving the Media Centre close tomidnight, the Computer still had a bronze medal marked against India.