Arjun Babuta Misses Out On Medal At Paris Olympics: Indian shooter Arjun Babuta finished fourth in the final of the men’s 10m air rifle event at the 2024 Paris Olympics, missing out on India’s second medal at the games by a whisker.
After disappointing Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 outings, the Indian shooting contingent has come out with all guns blazing at the 2024 Olympics. After Manu Bhaker won a bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event, Arjun Babuta finished fourth in his event after being in contention for a medal throughout the final.
Babuta finished seventh in the qualification for the event on July 28th, thus making it to the final today.
For those who don’t know, the final of such shooting events comprises eight shooters. All participants first shoot two rounds of fine shots each. After these 10 shots, they shoot several rounds of two shots each, the lowest-ranked shooter being eliminated after each round of two shots.
Arjun Babuta Misses Out On Medal At Paris Olympics
After the first two rounds, Arjun was third, and after a splendid first elimination round, he climbed to second in the rankings, just 0.1 points behind China’s Sheng Lihao. While the gap increased after the second elimination round, the Indian was still second and en route to a podium finish.
The Chinese shooter was on song, scoring 10.5+ as it was routine for him. Babuta faltered at his second position. After the third elimination round, he was still second, but the gap between him and third-placed Croatian Miran Maricic.
With five men remaining in the competition, fantastic shooting by shooters from Croatia and Sweden saw Arjun reeling in fourth. Having been in podium positions throughout the final, the Indian had fallen out of medal contention with one round remaining before the top three were locked in.
Check Out: Arjun Babuta Misses Out On Medal At Paris Olympics
After the first shot in the fifth elimination round, Babuta was just 0.2 behind Maricic, but a 10.7 by the Croatian meant it was over for Arjun, who then shot a 9.5 under pressure and was eliminated from the final.
In the end, China’s Sheng Lihao won the gold, Sweden’s Victor Lindgren won the silver, and Croatia’s Miran Maricic ended up with a bronze. In a heartbreaking finish, Arjun Babuta finished fourth and thus missed out on India’s second shooting medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
But it’s not all over for India’s shooting contingent at the Paris Olympics. Tomorrow, India will face South Korea in the mixed team 10m air pistol bronze medal match as Manu Bhaker will look to become the first Indian to win two medals at a single Olympics as she teams up with Sarabjot Singh.
India’s Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar will participate in the grueling men’s 50m rifle three positions qualification on July 31, whereas another medal hopeful and world record holder, Sift Kaur Samra, along with Anjum Mougdil, will shoot in the qualification for the women’s event of 50m rifle three positions.
Manu Bhaker will have another shot at a medal as she, along with Esha Singh, will participate in her specialty event, the women’s 25m air pistol, on August 2. There will also be several skeet shooting events where India will participate.
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