In a remarkable display of skill and determination, Indian shooter Manish Narwal secured a silver medal in the men’s 10m air pistol (SH1) event at the Paris Paralympics 2024. This achievement marks another significant milestone in Narwal’s illustrious career and adds to India’s growing tally of medals at the Games.
Manish Narwal’s path to success at Paralympics
Manish Narwal, a 22-year-old shooter from Haryana, has been a prominent figure in Indian para-shooting. His journey to the Paralympics began at a young age when he discovered his passion for shooting. Despite being born with a congenital impairment in his right hand, Narwal’s determination and hard work propelled him to the top of his sport. He first gained international recognition by winning gold in the mixed 50m pistol SH1 event at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020.
At the Paris Paralympics, Narwal competed in the men’s 10m air pistol (SH1) event, a category for athletes with an impairment affecting one arm or leg, who compete in a standing position. The competition was fierce, with top shooters from around the world vying for the coveted medals.
Narwal’s performance in the qualification rounds was impressive, securing him a spot in the finals. He displayed remarkable consistency and precision, finishing the qualification round with a score of 565, placing him among the top contenders.
The Thrilling Final
The final of the men’s 10m air pistol (SH1) event was held on August 30, 2024, at the Châteauroux Shooting Range. Narwal started strong, quickly establishing himself as a frontrunner. His steady hand and focused demeanour were evident as he consistently hit high scores.
However, the competition intensified as the final progressed. Narwal faced stiff competition from South Korea’s Jo Jeongdu, a seasoned marksman with a wealth of experience. Despite leading for a significant portion of the final, Narwal encountered a series of challenging shots that allowed Jo to overtake him.
🇮🇳🔥 𝗧𝗼𝗸𝘆𝗼 🥇 🤝 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀 🥈! Congratulations to Manish Narwal on winning India's fourth medal at the Paris Paralympics 2024.
👉 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 @sportwalkmedia 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀… pic.twitter.com/2ftT7xSOWS
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In the end, Narwal finished with a score of 234.9, securing the silver medal. Jo Jeongdu clinched the gold with a total score of 237.4, while China’s Yang Chao took the bronze with a score of 233.1.
Speaking after the event, he expressed his gratitude to his coaches, family, and supporters. “This silver medal is a result of years of hard work and support from everyone around me. I am proud to represent India on this stage and hope to continue making my country proud,” Narwal said.
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