Norfolk sharpshooter Mick Gault's bid to equal the all-time Commonwealth Games medal record came to an end today, but the Dereham ace did not rule out a comeback in 2014.

Gault – the most decorated English athlete in the history of the Games – was targeting medal number 18 in Delhi, which would have taken him level with Australian shooter Phillip Adams.

But it wasn't to be as the 56-year-old, competing in his fifth Commonwealth Games, finished seventh as Singapore's Bin Gai took the gold.

The result leaves Gault, pictured, with two medals to declare from Delhi after he previously finished second with Nick Baxter in the 10m air pistol pairs before a surprise bronze with Games newcomer Iqbal Ubhi in the the 25m pistol pairs set him up for a shot at equalling the record.

'I believe that's the end,' said Gault, who was defending his title won in Melbourne. 'It's very sad, very emotional. I'm not going to be standing out there again in the finals hall, allegedly.

'I've been offered a job I can't refuse. If the job works out that's me finished with shooting. If it doesn't come off, I might make a little comeback. Never say never.

'But I'm 56, I've been offered the chance of a career in coaching for the next four years to change my mundane life as a civil servant to a coach. If the job comes off, I'll be silly not to accept it. I can't say what it is, you will find out soon.'

Gault has been used to handling the pressure of the big stage ever since he won his first gold in Victoria in 1994 before going on to win eight more.

But even the veteran of the England team admitted he felt the heat this morning.

He added: 'It was hard, there was lots of pressure on me, which told in my scores and my results.

'But I've come away with two medals, I've set a new record for Team England with 17 medals.

'The magic 18 wasn't there, so I couldn't equal Phil Adams' record of 18 medals. But he did 18 in six Games, I've done 17 in five, so I am claiming the moral victory I think!

'Today was as good as it could be. I started off well and just got a bit excited in the tens and twenties, but we can't train that often because of the situation we have in the UK.

'We only have two ranges and one of them is two and half hours away and the other is three and a half hours away. All in all, I've shot very well with the training I could put in.'

SPAR, there for you and our GB athletes, proud supporters since 2004 www.spar.co.uk