Rhythm Sangwan: India's Shooting Sensation for Paris Olympics

India is poised to send its largest-ever shooting contingent to the Paris Olympics, with Rhythm Sangwan’s bronze in the 25m pistol final at the Asian Olympic Qualifier securing the nation’s 16th quota spot. This surpasses the previous record of 15 athletes at the Tokyo Olympics.

Sangwan narrowly missed earlier opportunities to secure a quota spot, notably during the ISSF World Championships in Cairo in 2022. In Jakarta, luck favored her as the gold and silver-winning Koreans were ineligible due to their country already holding two quota places.

Expressing her elation, Sangwan emphasized the significance of winning a quota place for the country. She conveyed her commitment to maintaining peak performance to secure her spot in the Paris Olympics.

Sangwan had faced challenges in previous attempts to secure a quota, particularly in the ISSF World Championships in Cairo, where she finished fifth after a promising start. In the World Championships in Baku, she missed out by finishing last in the final.

In the recent Asian Olympic Qualifier, Sangwan faced stiff competition but demonstrated resilience. Placed tied third after the fourth series, she secured the quota by maintaining her position in the top four, as the top two Koreans were ineligible.

Reflecting on her performance, Sangwan acknowledged the pressure but credited her ability to control emotions and focus on her game. Her coach, Vineet Kumar, highlighted the importance of going back to basics and making minor adjustments in preparation for upcoming trials.

During the National Rifle Association of India’s Olympic trials, Sangwan, along with other quota winners, will enjoy a two-point advantage. Her coach expressed confidence in her abilities, citing a strong qualification score of 298 out of 300 in the rapid stage.

Sangwan’s journey into shooting was facilitated by her father, Narender Sangwan, a Haryana Police DSP, who encouraged her to take up the sport. Her rapid rise in the sport led her to the Indian junior team within four years.

Inspired by London Olympics silver medalist Vijay Kumar and her coach, Sangwan has set her sights on an Olympic medal. With India’s largest shooting contingent heading to Paris, expectations are high for an impressive showing at the Summer Olympics.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The Indian Express