Rhythm Sangwan wins India's record-making 16th Paris Olympics quota

Rhythm Sangwan won the 16th Paris Olympics quota in shooting on Thursday as she won a bronze medal in the 25m sports pistol event at the Asia Qualifiers. With Sangwan’s bronze and quota, India have registered its highest-ever number of quota places for an Olympics. The previous best was 15 quotas for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In Rhythm’s category, China’s Yang Jiin won the gold with a score of 41, while Korea’s Kim Yeji came second with 32 points. But a third-placed finish with 28 points was enough for the Indian to clinch a Paris 2024 quota.

Olympic Quota No. 1⃣6⃣ in SHOOTING!

Rhythm Sangwan earns a place for Team India in women's 25m Pistol. Congratulations! 👏#OlympicQualifiers | #RoadToParis2024 pic.twitter.com/bIV7AOsmEd

— Olympic Khel (@OlympicKhel) January 11, 2024

Rhythm, who hails from Haryana, has now won two bronze medals in the ongoing Asian Olympic Qualifiers after she came third in the 10m air pistol event on Monday where Esha Singh clinched gold. She, however, wasn’t able to win an Olympic quota in the 10m air pistol event as Pakistan’s Kishmala Talat surpassed her to clinch the silver medal. The 20-year-old Rhythm had won gold at the Asian Games 2023 in the team event of the 25m sports pistol shooting with Esha and Manu Bhaker. This is Rhythm’s third medal in the ongoing Asian Olympic Qualifiers after she finished third in 10m air pistol on Monday with Esha clinching gold. She also won the 10m air pistol mixed team silver with Arjun Singh Cheema on Tuesday. Rhythm credited her personal coach Vineet Kumar for the success in the Qualifiers. “I am really happy that I won the bronze medal and could win the quota for my country,” Rhythm said after the match. “I would like to thank my personal coach Vineet Kumar. It’s all because of him I’m here today. I would also like to thank all my supporters out there,” said the affable shooter. Asked which of the three medals she prided the most, Rhythm said all the medals here were close to her heart but the fact that the bronze on Thursday also earned India an Olympic quota made it special. “I think all of them (three medals here) hold a special place in my heart. But, yes, I mean I could do this for my country… I could win the quota for my country, so, yes, it holds a special place. Thank you Vineet sir, keep your blessings,” she said. Rhythm shot two rapid-fire series of 100 on Monday to qualify for the final with a top score of 588. She then had 28 hits out of her first 35 targets, finishing behind the Korean pair, who were ineligible for quotas in the event. That released two quota slots for other shooters and Rhythm earned one. Rhythm began the day placed fifth after the first precision round on Wednesday, coming up with a near-perfect second rapid-fire round. Her 298 out of 300 propelled her to 588, three clear of Yeji Kim, the first of three Koreans to enter the top eight. With inputs from PTI