The Paris Olympics 2024 has already had the curtain raiser. India has sent 117 athletes to the multinational event. This is the first time that the nation has sent so many athletes to a major event. Around 70 athletes from India will play in the Olympics for the first time. The inexperience of the athletes has come to haunt the nation.
On Day 1 of the Paris 2024 Olympics, India’s hopes for a medal were dashed when both Indian pairs in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team event failed to qualify for the finals. The Indian teams of Elavenil Valarivan and Sandeep Singh, and Ramita Jindal and Arjun Babuta, finished outside the top four. It was required to advance to the medal rounds. Ramita Jindal and Arjun Babuta came closest to qualifying but ultimately finished in sixth place with a score of 628.7.
They just missed out on a top-four spot, finishing only one point behind Norway and Germany, who both scored 629.7 to progress to the bronze medal match. Elavenil Valarivan and Sandeep Singh finished 12th overall, with a total score of 626.3. Despite their efforts, they were unable to compete with the top-scoring teams.
Pressure costs India a medal in shooting
Is it the lack of preparation or pressure that cost India one medal in shooting? The nation was hoping for at least one medal in shooting. The pressure might have just cost the team or there was a lack of preparation by the athletes. These questions will arise after their loss. Since Abhinav Bindra in 2008, no other shooter has been able to win a medal in the Olympics.
The result will be a disappointment for the Indian shooting squad, which had great expectations for the mixed-team event. The Indian contingent will now focus on the individual events, where they hope to make apologies and win gold for their country. A team of 21 shooters has been selected for the Paris Olympics. With the remaining shooting events to come, India will be aiming for a change in fortunes and a successful finish to its Olympic campaign.
All eyes are on the performance of shooters Manu Bhakar and Sift Kaur Samra. The Men’s have also failed in the Singles event with Sarabjot Singh finishing 9th one place behind the qualification. Arjun Singh Cheema could not make up finished 15th.
