India at Paris Olympics 2024: Ace Indian shooter Manu Bhaker was at the top of her game as she made it to the final of the 10m women's air pistol event on Saturday. However, the opening day of the Paris Olympics 2024 was otherwise a day to forget for Indian shooters.
Here are 5 things for Indian fans to know from the shooting range:
1. The 22-year-old Manu Bhaker shot 580 to finish third in the qualifications. Hungary's Veronika Major claimed the top spot with a score of 582.
2. The other Indian representative, Rhythm Sangwan, ended 15th with a score of 573.
The final will be held on Sunday.
3. Sarabjot Singh and Arjun Singh Cheema, the Indian shooters who were competing in the men's 10m air pistol event, failed to reach the final round. Sarabjot finished ninth with a total score of 577 in the qualifications while Arjun finished 18th with 574.
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Germany's Robin Walter, who also shot 577, grabbed the last (eighth) qualifying spot after managing to shoot one inner 10 (X) more than Sarabjot's 16.
4. Indian shooters were eliminated in the 10m air rifle mixed team without making the finals. Ramita Jindal and Arjun Babuta finished sixth with a total score of 628.7, while Elavenil Valarivan and Sandeep Singh ended 12th with an aggregate score of 626.3. Ramita and Babuta came close and were placed fifth with three shots remaining but fell 1.0 point short of the medal round cut-off.
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5. Shooters from China, Korea and Kazakhstan dominated the qualifications. It is the debut Games for 17 of the 21 Indian shooters, who are bound to feel pressure despite the best possible preparation.