“Another event”: Gagan Narang consoles shooter Sarabjot Singh after losing the final by 1 point

Indian Chief of Mission Gagan Narang on Saturday consoled shooter Sarabjot Singh, who failed to reach the final round of the men’s 10m air pistol event here. Sarabjot and Arjun Singh Cheema shone in patches but failed to reach the men’s 10m air pistol final. While Sarabjot finished ninth with a total score of 577 in the qualifiers, Arjun finished far behind at 18th with 574.

“No one can understand how Sarabjot feels like I do. I faced a similar situation, missing a countdown at the 2008 Beijing Olympics,” wrote Narang, bronze medalist in the 10m air rifle event at the 2012 London Olympics, in his ‘X’. to lead.

“Calm down @sarabjotsingh30 you have one more event.. You did it.. come back stronger and conquer the world my friend.”

Chin up @Sarabjotsingh30 you got this… pic.twitter.com/N65JtjavX2

-Gagan Narang (@gaGunNarang) July 27, 2024

Sarabjot has another chance to achieve success as she will pair up with Manu Bhaker in the 10m air pistol mixed team event at the Paris Games.

Shooters failed to achieve results at every Olympics after 2012 and apprehensions began to surface early for this one too, before Bhaker decided to take control.

The 22-year-old, from Jhajjar in Haryana, scored 580 in the qualifiers in which Hungarian ace Veronika Major took first place with a score of 582. The other Indian in the field, Rhythm Sangwan, finished 15th with a dismal result . 573.

Manu Bhaker, who was in control for most of the hour and 15 minute session, will have to maintain the same composure in the all-important final after reaching the next stage with a third-place finish in the qualifying round.

India has not won an Olympic medal in shooting since 2012 and Bhaker is well placed to end that lean run.

From a distance, Bhaker’s personal trainer Jaspal Rana couldn’t hold back his tears before saying the job was only half done.