Maheshwari Chauhan won the Olympic quota with a silver medal in women’s skeet in the Shotgun Olympic qualification championship in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday.
It was the 21st Olympic quota for India for the Paris Games, and the fifth in shotgun. India missed three Olympic quota, one each in men’s and women’s trap, apart from men’s skeet. It had swept all the possible 16 Olympic quota in rifle and pistol.
It was a commendable fare from the 27-year-old Maheshwari who qualified in the fourth place with the second best score of 121 out of 125, a national record.
Maheshwari could have won the gold, as she thrice had a chance, but missed a double in the shoot-off after being tied on 54 with Francisca Chadid of Chile.
“It was amazing, it was better than what I hoped for. It has taken me a long time and a lot of work to get here. I was really glad that I could get the (Olympic) quota. I’m a bit bummed about the shoot-off, but I have no regrets and am happy with how it went,” said Chauhan after the event.
In the final, only four of the six shooters were eligible to get the quota. Once Assem Orynbay of Kazakhstan and Rigina Meftakhetdinova of Azerbaijan crashed out in the sixth and fifth spots respectively, the two Olympic quotas were confirmed for Maheshwari and qualification leader Victoria Larsson (122) of Sweden.
“My goal getting in was the final in order to get the quota, but the moment I had it I was little more relaxed and found my rhythm. This was seen in my shooting and I’m thrilled about how it went,” she added.
The results:
Skeet: Women: 1. Francisca Chadid (Chi) 54(4) 121; 2. Maheshwari Chauhan 54(3) 121; 3. Jiang Yiting (Chn) 45 (119); 24. Ganemat Sekhon 115; 47. Areeba Khan 111.
(With inputs from Kamesh Srinivasan)
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