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Asian Games 2023 gold medalist Palak Gulia secured India’s 20th Paris Olympic quota place in Shooting after winning bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol at the ISSF Olympic Qualification Championship Rifle/Pistol. The event took place in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil where Armenia’s Elmira Karapetyan won gold, while Thai shooter Kamonlak Saencha finished second and took the other available quota place.
The Indian teenager had a slowish start in the 24-shot final before gradually climbing the leaderboard. Palak and Sainyam couldn't get above the fifth, but eliminations proved a disaster for Veronika Major of Hungary as Palak and Sainyam improved their standing.
Ahead of the 19th, Palak took a 0.6 lead over Major with Sainyam exiting in fifth. The Hungarian could not hit the 10-ring as the 18-year-old did once and sealed the quota spot while Saencha and Karapetyan took home the second and first spots. It was India’s second Olympic quota in the event following the one won by Esha Singh. India has so far clinched all possible 16 Olympic quota places for the Paris Games, in rifle and pistol.
10m air pistol: Women results:
1. Elmira Karapetyan (Arm) 240.7 (581); 2. Kamonlak Saencha (Tha) 240.5 (579); 3. Palak Gulia 217.6 (578); 5. Sianyam 176.7 (578); 9. Surbhi Rao 578.
