South Asian Games gold medallist Sandeep Kundu of Haryana has clinched the first Gold Medal of the 34th National Games. In Ranchi today, he lived up to his reputation to reign supreme in the above 87kg category of the taekwondo competition. The seven-time national champion knocked down Goa's Veera Basaviah who had to settle for silver. In the 46kg women's category, Shradha Dixit of Uttar Pradesh claimed the gold defeating Shabina Sundesh of Sikkim. Host state Jharkhand too opened their account through a bronze medal by class XII student and Bokaro girl Preeti Kumari. Preeti, along with Trupti Tare of Maharasthra, bowed out in the semifinals to settle for the two bronze medals.