In the men’s 50 m rifle three positions competition at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Championship, shooter Akhil Sheoran won a bronze medal.
During the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Championship in Baku, Azerbaijan on Sunday, shooter Akhil Sheoran not only won a bronze medal in the men’s 50 m rifle three positions event, but he also guaranteed the nation’s quota for the 2024 Paris Olympics. According to Olympics.com, Akhil started the kneeling series with a score of 6 in the medal round but scored a whopping 405 in the prone and standing sections to take the podium spot. Bronze went to Petr Nymbursky of the Czech Republic, with a score of 459.2, while gold went to Alexander Schmirl of Austria, who scored 462.6.
Akhil had finished sixth in the qualifying event with a score of 585 and advanced to the eight-man final. Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar finished 13th in the qualifying round with 583 points, while Niraj finished 40th with 577 points. The Indian trio’s overall score of 1,745 points enabled them win gold in the team event.
The Championship is a qualifying event for the Olympics in Paris in 2024, with 48 quotas available for the top-tier multi-sport competition. These quotas will be distributed to the top four finishers (one from each country) in each of the 12 Olympic individual shooting events.
Because Ukraine’s Serhiy Kulish, who finished fourth, and Petr Nymbursky had already received their quotas, Akhil needed to finish in the top four among the remaining six shooters in the final to secure an Olympic quota.
Because National Olympic Committees have sole power over their countries’ Olympic representation, athletes’ participation in the Paris event is contingent on their NOC’s selection to represent their delegation at the tournament.
This is India’s fifth shooting quota for Paris 2024.
Last year’s ISSF Championships saw Bhowneesh Mendiratta (men’s trap), defending world champion Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil (men’s 10m air rifle), and Swapnil Kusale (men’s 50m rifle 3 positions) earn Olympic quotas for India. Mehuli Ghosh also secured another quota in the women’s 10 m air rifle in Baku on Sunday.
Because a country may only field two shooters per individual event, quotas from Akhil and Swapnil have ensured that India has met their quota in men’s 50 m rifle 3 spots for the 2024 Olympics.
India’s Rhythm Sangwan advanced to the women’s 25-meter pistol final earlier in the day, however she finished in eighth place. Olympians Manu Bhaker (ranked 22nd in qualifying with 580 points) and Esha Singh (ranked 16th with 581 points) were unable to make it to the championship match.
In contrast, the women’s trio won gold in the women’s 25-meter pistol team event with a score of 1,744. China and Chinese Taipei have won bronze and silver, respectively.
India has now secured seven medals – four gold and three bronze – at the ISSF World Championships 2023 in Baku so far.
