New Delhi, Saturday, July 24, 2021: World number one Saurabh Chaudhary of India made India’s first final of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Shooting competition, but missed out on a medal in his first Games, finishing a creditable seventh in the Men’s 10M Air Pistol event. He finished with a score of 137.4 in the final. The teenager had earlier topped the qualification round with a quality 586 after 60 shots.
Earlier, India’s second entrant in the event Abhishek Verma had to endure heartbreak in qualifying. He was placed fifth with four shots to go after making a brilliant comeback, but he finished with two 8s for a score of 575 to place 17thin the final standings. The final qualifying spot went at 578.
Iran’s Javad Foroughi, who came in with red-hot form into the Games having won both the World Cups in the lead-up, was crowned Olympic Champion, finishing with a score of 244.8 in the 24-shot final. Serbian Damir Mikec, eventually realized his dream of an Olympic medal in his fourth Games, winning silver with 237.9. Beijing Olympic Champion Pang Wei of China won bronze 217.6.
In the first medal event of the day where the Games’ first Gold is given out, India’s Elavenil Valarivan and Apurvi Chandela could not make the finals of the Women’s 10M Air Rifle. Elavenil shot 626.5 to finish 16thwhile Apurvi was further back in 36thwith 621.9.
China’s Yang Qian won gold in the event while Russian Olympic Committee athlete Anastasia Galashina won silver and Nina Christen of Switzerland won silver.
Around 356 athletes from 100 National Olympic Committees are taking part in the Olympic Shooting competition at the Asaka Shooting range where 15 gold medals are in line. India has yet another set of four shooters featuring in the two medal events on Sunday- the Women’s 10M Air Pistol and the Men’s 10M Air Rifle respectively.