Indian shooting triumph: Varun Tomar, Esha Singh clinch Paris 2024 Olympic Quotas

In a remarkable display of skill and finesse, Varun Tomar and Esha Singh clinched India’s 14th and 15th Paris 2024 Olympic quota places by triumphing in the men’s and women’s 10m air pistol events respectively on the opening day of the Asian Olympic Qualification Rifle/Pistol event at the Senayan Shooting Range.

Varun demonstrated dominance, securing victory with a 2.6-point lead, while Esha’s exceptional performance led to an impressive 6.8-point lead, showcasing their exceptional prowess.

India’s tally in shooting for the 2024 Paris Olympics now stands at 15 quota places, matching the count achieved during Tokyo 2020. The Indian contingent’s achievement was further emphasized by Arjun Cheema’s silver in the men’s pistol event and Rhythm Sangwan’s bronze in the women’s competition, signifying India’s prowess on the continental stage in the sport.

Mongolian shooter Davaakhuu Enkhtaivan secured the bronze in the men’s event, claiming the second available quota. Pakistan’s Kishmala Talat’s silver medal secured the historic first-ever women’s shooting Olympic quota for her country.

Varun, an army marksman aged 20, showcased exceptional shooting throughout the day. His score of 586 in the 55-field qualification marked his personal best in international competition over the past year.

Acknowledging the nerves, Varun shared, “Last year was my first year in the senior team, experiencing ups and downs. It’s evident that dedicated training pays off.”

Esha, the lowest ranked among the Indian qualifiers with a score of 578, started sixth. Her strategic gameplay and focused mindset propelled her to the lead, eventually securing the first position with an impressive score of 243.1. Rhythm clinched bronze with a score of 214.5.

“I stayed focused on my game and processes,” remarked Esha in a post-match interview, expressing gratitude to the support received and crediting the well-planned training by the NRAI.

India’s stellar performance continued as the men’s team comprising Varun, Arjun, and Ujjwal secured the men’s team gold, while the women’s team consisting of Esha, Rhythm, and Surbhi also claimed gold, contributing to India’s top standings at the end of day one with four golds and a total of six medals.

In the junior category, Priyanshu Yadav secured sixth place in the junior men’s air pistol final, while Paras Khola finished ninth overall, reflecting India’s promising future in shooting.

-IANS