The Asian Shooting Championships 2023, held in Changwon, South Korea, emerged as a crucial qualifier for the Paris Olympics 2024. With a total of 24 Olympic quotas up for grabs, India made a strong showing, securing additional spots for the upcoming Summer Games.
Also Read: Indian Shooters Secure Paris Olympic Quotas in Dramatic Fashion at Asian Championships
The top two finishers in each of the 12 Olympic shooting events were eligible to secure quotas for their respective national teams. Notably, only one quota per country was allowed in each event, leading to intense competition as athletes vied for the coveted spots.
News Flash:
Manu Bhaker gets Paris Olympic Quota for India in 25m Pistol event.
Manu finished 5th in FINAL at Asian Shooting Championships. pic.twitter.com/xbrHqtqZTm
— India_AllSports (@India_AllSports) October 28, 2023
Remarkable Achievement of Manu Bhaker
Manu Bhaker, a prominent name in Indian shooting, secured an Olympic quota despite not finishing in the top two of her event. This unique situation arose because the Paris 2024 regulations stipulate that a country can only obtain a maximum of two quotas in any specific shooting event.
China had already secured one quota in the women’s 25m pistol event through Chen Yan during the Shooting World Championships 2022 in Cairo. On Saturday, Liu Rui clinched the gold medal in the same event at the Asian Shooting Championships, fulfilling China’s allotment for Paris 2024. Consequently, this ruled out other Chinese contenders, Zhao Nan and Feng Sixuan, from securing additional quota places for next year’s Summer Games.
MANU BHAKER SECURES PAIRS OLYMPICS QUOTA 🔫
Manu Bhaker finished 5th in Womens 25m Pistol event at Asian Ch's and secures Paris Oly quota
Manu topped in qualification with 591 pic.twitter.com/NBuLDl0q9c
— SPORTS ARENA🇮🇳 (@SportsArena1234) October 28, 2023
Paris Olympics 2024 Quota
Despite finishing fifth, Manu Bhaker obtained the Paris 2024 quota, thanks to the regulations. Her perseverance and consistent performances have contributed significantly to India’s Olympic shooting quotas. Notably, this marks India’s 11th quota in shooting for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Out of these 11 quotas, 5 have been earned by Indian women: Manu Bhaker, Mehuli Ghosh, Sift Kaur Samra, Rajeshwari Kumari, and Tilottama Sen. Tilottama Sen secured her quota by winning the silver medal in the women’s 10m air rifle event in Changwon the previous day.
In addition to the women, two Indian men, Arjun Babuta in men’s 10m air rifle and Sarabjot Singh in men’s 10m air pistol, have also earned Paris 2024 quotas during the Changwon meet. These achievements are a testament to the growing talent and potential in Indian shooting sports.
Beyond individual achievements, the Asian Shooting Championships also saw India excel as a team. Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh, and Rhythm Sangwan collectively earned India the silver medal in the women’s 25m pistol team event. China secured the gold in this event, but India’s performance showcased the depth of talent in the Indian squad.
Additionally, India’s Divyansh Singh Panwar and Ramita secured the silver medal in the 10m air rifle mixed team event. This collective success highlights the teamwork and synergy among Indian shooters as they aim for excellence on the global stage.
India’s remarkable performance at the Asian Shooting Championships 2023 has not only secured additional quotas for the Paris 2024 Olympics but also underscored the nation’s growing prominence in the world of shooting sports.
