(Sports News) Rhythm Sangwan accomplished a feat equivalent to its weight in gold. Her third-place finish not only added another medal to her name but also secured a quota place for India at the Paris Olympics, marking the country’s record 16th entry. This surpasses the previous highest contingent of 15 at the Tokyo Olympics. Rhythm’s achievement was particularly noteworthy as Korea had already secured two quota places in the event, rendering the gold and silver won by Yang Jiin and Kim Yeji inconsequential in terms of quotas.

Expressing her joy after the quota confirmation, Rhythm emphasized the significance of winning a quota for the country. Despite missing out on two previous opportunities to secure a quota, she remained determined and focused on maintaining a good form leading up to the Paris Olympics.

Rhythm’s journey included near misses in the ISSF World Championships in Cairo in 2022 and the World Championships in Baku in August of the same year. On Thursday, she started slow in the final but gradually improved her position to secure the much-needed quota by finishing in the top four. Her resilience and ability to control her emotions under pressure were key factors in her success.

Rhythm’s coach, Vineet Kumar, highlighted her strong performance in the rapid stage of qualification and believes that focusing on the basics will be crucial in the upcoming trials. Inspired by London Olympics silver medallist Vijay Kumar and guided by her coach, Rhythm aspires to win an Olympic medal.

With India already holding 16 Paris Olympics quota places, there is potential to add up to eight more from remaining qualifying events and rankings. The future looks promising for Rhythm Sangwan and the Indian shooting contingent as they aim for success on the global stage.

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