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Indian shooter Ramita Jindal has secured a spot in the final of the women's 10m air rifle event at the ongoing Paris Olympics, while her compatriot Elavenil Valarivan faced disappointment once again.Jindal, who started the event strongly, finished in fifth place with a score of 631.5. She will compete in the final on Monday, aiming to add to India's medal tally. Valarivan, who had been a medal contender, suffered a setback and failed to qualify for the final.In the first series, Jindal began with a dominant 10.5 and followed it up with a perfect 10.9. Valarivan also started well with a 10.6 and 10.7. However, Jindal's performance dipped in the first series, and she slipped out of the top 20. Valarivan, on the other hand, finished the first series with a score of 105.8 and remained within the top five.In the second series, Jindal continued to hit the region of 10 and moved up to eighth spot. Valarivan maintained consistency and stayed inside the top five. As the event progressed, Jindal gradually made her comeback, while Valarivan struggled in her final shots.Jindal struck 10.4 and accumulated 105.7 points in the final to move past Oceanne Muller and book her place in the final. Valarivan, who had been in contention for a medal, faltered in her final shots and missed out on a place in the top eight.Earlier, on the opening day of the Olympics, Valarivan and Sandeep Singh had tasted defeat in the 10m air rifle mixed team qualification event. Only four teams out of 28 qualified for the knockout stages, and the Indian duo finished in 12th place with 626.3 points.

As the Indian shooting contingent embarks on its quest for glory at the Paris Olympics 2024, the parents of two promising athletes, Elavenil Valarivan and Ramita Jindal, have expressed their unwavering belief in their daughters' abilities.Elavenil, a 10m air rifle specialist, will be making her second Olympic appearance after narrowly missing out on a medal in Tokyo. Her father, R Valarivan, is confident that she has the experience and preparation to make a podium finish this time around. "She has prepared well and is stronger than ever before," he said. "We expect her to bring glory to India."Ramita, a rising star in the 10m air pistol event, has also been making waves on the international stage. Her parents, Sonika and Arvind, are equally optimistic about her chances of success. "She has been improving with every match," said Arvind. "We are confident that she will win a medal for India."The Indian shooting team has been training diligently in the lead-up to the Olympics, and the athletes have received strong support from the government and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme. The team's coaches are also confident in their abilities."The Indian shooting team is a strong contender for a medal in every category," said national coach Jaspal Rana. "Our athletes have been performing consistently at the national and international level, and they are ready to give their best at the Olympics."The shooting competition at the Paris Olympics will begin on Saturday with the 10m air rifle mixed team qualification, featuring the teams of Sandeep Singh/Elavenil Valarivan and Arjun Babuta/Ramita Jindal. The medal rounds will take place later that day. The 10m air pistol qualifiers for men and women will follow on the same day.The Indian shooting contingent is determined to make a mark at the Paris Olympics and bring home medals for the country. With the support of their families, coaches, and the nation, they are confident in their abilities to achieve their goals.

Elavenil Valarivan's resurgence in shooting has reached new heights, as she emerged victorious in the Olympic selection trials with a remarkable score of 254.3. This triumph marks a significant milestone in her journey towards the Paris Olympics, where she aims to make her second Games appearance.Beyond the medals and accolades, Elavenil's true triumph lies in rediscovering her joy in shooting. After enduring the lows of the Tokyo Olympics, she has found renewed passion and a thirst for learning. "I'm just enjoying the sport right now," she says. "There are no longer days where I'm not happy shooting."This newfound joy has fueled her determination to improve and push her limits. She has embraced the challenges of the trials, overcoming a poor first qualification round and fending off competition from younger challengers. "I'm glad things are turning around and getting back to the way I want it to be," she says.Elavenil's journey has not been without its setbacks. The disappointment of missing out on the Asian Games team last year could have easily derailed her progress. However, she used it as motivation, winning the Rio World Cup gold and the National Championship in quick succession.Through it all, Elavenil has learned the importance of mental strength. "Tokyo has taught me to be mentally strong," she says. "That is playing a big part in my consistency and performance." She has also developed a strong support system, including a psychologist who has helped her navigate the emotional rollercoaster of elite sport.As she prepares for Paris, Elavenil is confident in her abilities and the lessons she has learned along the way. "There are going to be ups and downs," she says. "It is about how you accept the downs and push through it." With her newfound joy and determination, Elavenil Valarivan is poised to make a significant impact on the world stage once again.

Olympian shooter Manu Bhaker has emerged as the most successful athlete in the Olympic Selection Trials (OST) Rifle/Pistol, winning four titles across two events. On the concluding day of the trials in Bhopal, Bhaker triumphed in the women's 10m air pistol OST T4 match, adding to her previous victory in the women's 25m sports pistol.Bhaker's dominance in the 10m air pistol event was evident as she shot 240.8 in the final, leaving Hangzhou Asian Games champion Palak a distant 4.4 points behind in second place. Rhythm Sangwan secured the third spot.In the women's 10m air rifle OST T4, Elavenil Valarivan set a new benchmark by scoring 254.3, surpassing the current world record of 254.0 held by China's Han Jiayu. Ramita and Mehuli Ghosh finished second and third, respectively.Divyansh Panwar claimed the men's air rifle OST T4 title with a score of 253.3, just 0.4 below his own world record. Arjun Babuta and Rudrankksh Patil took the second and third spots.Ravinder Singh emerged victorious in the men's 10m air pistol OST T4 final with a score of 242.2. Varun Tomar and Sarabjot Singh finished second and third, respectively.The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) conducted a series of four trials in Delhi and Bhopal to select the squad for the Paris Olympics. The top-three scores in the trials, along with Paris Olympics quota bonus points, will determine the Indian squad for the Summer Games.Indian shooters will next compete in the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol in Munich from May 31 to June 08.