India set to field its biggest shooting contingent at Paris Olympics as Rhythm makes it 16

It was a bronze medal worth its weight in gold for Rhythm Sangwan in the 25m pistol final of the Asian Olympic Qualifier in Jakarta. Rhythm’s third place finish secured a quota place for the Paris Olympics, the country’s record 16th. The previous biggest contingent from India was 15 at the Tokyo Olympics. A bit of luck also went Rhythm’s way.

Though Koreans Yang Jiin (41) and Kim Yeji (32) won gold and silver, it didn’t matter in terms of quotas because the country had already bagged two quota places in the event.

Rhythm was ecstatic after the quota was confirmed.

“I think it’s really important to win the quota place for the country. Everyday, we aim to stay calm at whatever stage we compete and today was such a day. Every one of the 16 quota place winners for India would hope to carry the fine form ahead to seal their place for Paris and that’s what I too would be aiming for,” Sangwan told The Indian Express from Jakarta.

Twice she had an opportunity to secure a quota but missed out.

Rhythm had come close to becoming one of the earliest to seal an Olympic quota place in the ISSF World Championships in Cairo in 2022.

With four quotas on offer in the final, Rhythm was well placed after the first three series to seal the quota for India. But missed all the five shots in the fourth series to finish fifth.

Last year at World Championships in Baku in August, Rhythm had qualified for the final in which three of the eight shooters were ineligible for the Paris quota place. All that Rhythm needed to do was not to finish last in the eight-shooter final. But the Haryana shooter could only score eight from the first 20 shots and ended last.

Rhythm Sangwan poses after securing a bronze medal in the Women’s 10m Air Pistol event. (SAI Media)

On Thursday, Rhythm made a slow start in the final as she was placed tied fifth with Korean Minseo Kim with eight points after the third series. Rhythm then shot the fourth series with a score of four to be placed tied third with Chia Ying Wu of Chinese Taepei and Shun Xie Tio of Singapore. With the top two Koreans Jiin Yang and Yeji Kim being ineligible for quota place, all Rhythm needed was to stay in the top four. Rhythm then shot a score of 4 in the fifth series before shooting a two in the sixth series to assure herself of the quota.

“I believe that it’s not over till the end of the series or match and anything is possible in this format. Yes, pressure is there but I have learnt to control my emotions as well, not worrying about other scores. I just tried doing that and I am glad that it happened,” Rhythm said.

At the National Rifle Association of India’s Olympic trials, Rhythm, like other quota winners in her event, will get a two-point advantage to start with.
On Thursday, Rhythm had shot a score of 298 out of 300 in the rapid stage of qualification and her coach Vineet Kumar believes that a good score in rapid will help the youngster in the final.

“I was expecting a score of 300/300 in the rapid stage of qualification. She took that confidence in the final but struggled a bit with the targets initially in the final. The key for her will be to go back to the basics and make minor changes in the coming days before the trials,” Kumar said.

Rhythm’ father, Narender Sangwan, a Haryana Police DSP, encouraged her to take up the sport and took her to the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range from their Faridabad home in 2016. It helped that coach Kumar was Narender’s colleague.

The Haryana youngster would make it to the Indian junior team within four years.

Rhythm is aiming high. “London Olympics silver medallist Vijay Kumar sir is one of my inspirations. And so is my coach. I hope to win an Olympic medal”

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India’s can bag upto 24 quotas

India have 16 Paris Olympics quota places but can add a maximum of eight more either from the remaining three qualifying events and rankings. One each in the men’s 25m rapid fire, women’s 10m air pistol (Based on world qualification event and world ranking), one each in men’s and women’s trap event and two each in men and women’s skeet events from a maximum of two qualification events and world rankings.

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