Paris Olympics 2024: Arjun Babuta books place in men's 10m Air Rifle finals

Arjun Babuta becomes the first Indian male shooter to reach the final at Paris 2024.

In a display of precision and resilience, India’s Arjun Babuta has secured a spot in the finals of the Men’s 10m Air Rifle Individual event at Paris Olympics 2024, overcoming his earlier disappointment in the team competition.

The 25-year-old from Punjab demonstrated exceptional skill in the qualifying round, finishing seventh overall with a total score of 630.1 points. Babuta’s performance was marked by consistency and moments of brilliance, particularly in his opening series where he registered high 10s, immediately placing him in the top eight.

Babuta maintained his momentum through the second, third, and fourth series, scoring an impressive 105.5 and 105.4, including perfect 10.9s in both the third and fourth series. However, the Junior World Cup winner faced a brief setback in the fifth series with a below-par 104.

Showing mental fortitude, Babuta rallied in the final round. Despite a slow start, he finished strong with his last four shots scoring 10.6, 10.8, 10.7, and 10.4, solidifying his place in the finals.

Also Read: India at Olympics 2024: Shooting schedule, squad, live streaming details

India’s other contender, Sandeep Singh, missed out on qualification despite a commendable comeback. Starting poorly with a 103.6, Singh, highly regarded in Indian shooting circles, improved dramatically to finish 12th overall, climbing from 42nd place. However, his efforts fell short of securing a finals berth.

The qualifying round was dominated by China’s Lihao Sheng, the current world record holder. Sheng topped the charts with 631.7 points, although this was six points shy of his world record set in Baku last year.

As the competition moves into the finals, all eyes will be on Babuta as he faces off against the world’s elite shooters, including the formidable Sheng. The Indian shooter’s performance in the qualifiers suggests he has the potential to challenge for a medal, adding an exciting dimension to India’s ongoing shooting campaign.

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