Indian shooters Palak Gulia and Sainyam have kept their hopes alive for the 2024 Paris Olympics quota in the 10m air pistol event. The duo reached the final of the event at the last Olympic qualification in Rio De Janeiro. This achievement is significant as it keeps India in the hunt for its 20th quota in shooting and the eighth in pistol.
High hopes on Palak Gulia and Sainyam
Palak Gulia, the reigning Asian Games champion, and Sainyam shot identical scores of 578 in their respective qualification relays to secure their spots in the final. They will be competing for one of the two available quota places. Their performance has been commendable, considering the world-class field of 52 shooters they are up against.
The final of the event will be held on Sunday. If either of them manages to win a quota, it will be a significant achievement for Indian shooting, which has already secured 19 quotas in the Paris Olympics. These quotas are spread across rifle, pistol, and shotgun events.
The third Indian shooter, Surbhi Rao, also shot 578 but missed out on the final spot due to fewer hits in the inner 10 rings. She finished ninth, just missing out on the final qualifying spot, which was taken by Azerbaijan’s Nigar Nasirova.
The competition is fierce, with top shooters from around the world participating. Mariami Profiashvili topped the field with a score of 582. Other competitors include Hungarian ace Veronika Major and shooters from France, Armenia, and Thailand.
The journey to this point has not been easy. The Indian shooting squad has faced numerous challenges and has had to adapt to changes in the competition format. For instance, the 24-shot match, which used to be held on the same day as the qualification, will now be held the next day. This change is significant as it mirrors the schedule at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.
Despite these challenges, the Indian shooters have shown resilience and determination. Their performance so far has been a testament to their hard work and dedication. As they prepare for the final, they carry with them the hopes of a nation and the dream of securing the last available shooting quota for the Paris Olympics in the 10m air pistol event.
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