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In a thrilling display of precision and composure, India's Ramita Jindal narrowly missed out on a podium finish in the women's 10m air rifle final at the ongoing Olympics in Chateauroux. Competing in her maiden Games, the 20-year-old from Haryana showcased her exceptional talent, finishing seventh in a high-quality field.Ramita's journey began with a promising fifth-place finish in the qualifications, securing her a spot in the eight-woman final. Starting strongly, she fired an impressive series of shots, including a perfect 10.9. However, a costly 9.7 on her tenth shot dropped her to seventh place after the first stage.Undeterred, Ramita fought back with two solid shots of 10.4 and 10.5, keeping her hopes alive. As the competition progressed, the pressure intensified, with elimination beginning from the 12th shot. Ramita found herself tied with France's Oceanne Muller for seventh place, necessitating a single-shot shoot-off.Under immense pressure, Muller shot a near-perfect 10.8, leaving Ramita with the daunting task of hitting the bull's eye. Despite taking her time, Ramita's shot fell just short, scoring an impressive 10.5 but ultimately not enough to advance.The final moments of the match were equally dramatic, as China's Yuting Huang, the reigning Asian Games champion, was edged out by South Korea's 16-year-old Hyojin Ban in a nerve-wracking shoot-off. Ban's ice-cold composure and solid 10.4 in the shoot-off proved decisive, securing her the Olympic gold medal.Ramita's performance in her maiden Olympics is a testament to her talent and determination. Despite narrowly missing out on a medal, she has gained invaluable experience and will undoubtedly be a force to reckon with in future competitions.

Amidst the emotional scenes of young shooters and their families at the National Shooting Centre in New Delhi, Ramita Jindal emerged as a beacon of hope and determination. The 20-year-old shooter from Kurukshetra, Haryana, secured a coveted quota for the 2024 Paris Olympics in the women's 10m air rifle event.Ramita's journey to Paris was far from straightforward. After three rounds of qualification, she found herself trailing behind Tilottama Sen, Nancy, and Elavenil Valarivan. However, in the crucial fourth and final round, Ramita displayed nerves of steel and shot an incredible 636.4, the highest score of the trials.This remarkable performance propelled Ramita to the top of the standings, earning her a place in the Indian contingent for the Paris Games. Her parents, who had accompanied her to Delhi, were overjoyed and praised her resilience.Ramita's success is a testament to her hard work and dedication. She trains at the Sports Science Centre in Chennai alongside Tokyo Olympian Elavenil and has consistently performed well at the international level. In 2022, she won a gold medal at the junior World Championships, and in 2023, she claimed bronze at the Asian Championships and Asian Games.Despite her achievements, Ramita remains humble and focused. She credits her ability to sustain good series and maintain a high standard of scores to her improved mental strength. She also admires Tokyo Olympian Anjum Moudgil and aspires to compete in both 10m air rifle and 50m rifle 3P in the future.Ramita's qualification for the Paris Olympics is a significant moment for Indian shooting. It marks the first time that an Indian woman has secured an Olympic quota in the 10m air rifle event since 2012. Her success is an inspiration to young shooters across the country and a testament to the growing strength of Indian shooting.