Indian Women Pistol Shooters Gear Up for Final Olympic Quota in Rio de Janeiro Championship

New Delhi: The anticipation is high as three Indian women air pistol shooters gear up to compete for the last remaining quota place in the pistol discipline at the ISSF Final Olympic Qualification Championship Rifle/Pistol in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, starting from Friday.

Among the contenders are two talented teenagers, Asian Games champion Palak and Chandigarh’s Sainyam, alongside Palak’s Haryana teammate Surbhi Rao. Together, they aim to secure the second Paris Olympics quota place in Women’s 10m Air Pistol, adding to India’s impressive tally of 20 quota places in Shooting.

India’s shooting contingent has already made history by clinching a record 19 quota places for the Paris 2024 Games, including eight in Rifle, seven in Pistol, and four in Shotgun disciplines. Earlier in the year, Esha Singh secured the first Women’s Air Pistol quota place with a gold medal finish at the Asia Olympic Qualifiers in Jakarta.

Palak, Sainyam, and Surbhi, currently ranked third, fifth, and sixth in the discipline in India, will commence their qualification round on Saturday. The top eight qualifiers will advance to the final scheduled for Sunday, where they will vie for the coveted Olympic quota.

Accompanied by two coaches and a physiotherapist, the trio is determined to showcase their skills and secure the precious quota spot for India. The championship, featuring a total of 466 athletes from 76 nations, promises intense competition and thrilling performances.

The 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event will mark the opening day’s proceedings, setting the stage for an exhilarating championship where dreams of Olympic glory will be realized. As India’s talented shooters take aim in Rio de Janeiro, hopes soar high for a successful campaign and the fulfillment of Olympic aspirations.