India's para shooter Rubina Francis secured a silver medal in the women's 10m air pistol SH1 event at the 2024 Paris Paralympics 2024 on Saturday, August 31st.
Indian Shooting Dominates Paris Paralympics
The 25-year-old shooter from Madhya Pradesh showcased her talent by scoring a total of 211.1 points, securing third place in the final. Rubina secured her place in the final of the women's 10m air pistol SH1 event by finishing seventh in the qualification round earlier on the same day. Rubina Francis qualified for the final by displaying a strong finish in the qualification round. After trailing until shot number 14, she significantly improved her performance in the remaining shots, ultimately securing a place in the finals with a score of 556. In the final, Iran's Sareh Javanmardi claimed the gold medal with a final score of 236.8. Turkiye's Aysel Ozgan secured the silver medal with a final score of 231.1.
Rubina Francis wins silver medal at Paris Paralympics
This marks India's fourth medal in shooting at the 17th Summer Paralympic Games.
Earlier on August 30, Avani Lekhara successfully defended her women's 10m air rifle gold medal, a feat she had achieved in the Tokyo Paralympics. Her compatriot, Mona Agarwal, clinched the bronze medal in the same event. Manish Narwal further enhanced India's medal tally by winning a silver medal in the men's 10m air pistol (SH1) event.
The SH1 class is designed for athletes who can hold their guns without difficulty and shoot from either a standing or sitting position, whether in a wheelchair or chair.
Rubina Francis: A Rising Star in Indian Para Shooting
Rubina Francis, born in 1999 in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, has overcome significant challenges throughout her life. Born with a disability, she faced physical and financial limitations during her early career. However, with unwavering support from her family and coaches, Rubina developed her shooting skills and began competing at the national level. A breakthrough moment came in 2018 when Rubina qualified for the Jakarta Asian Para Games. She subsequently qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics but unfortunately missed out on a medal. In 2023, Rubina achieved another podium finish by winning a bronze medal at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games. Despite relying on the bipartite rule to secure her place in the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Rubina made the most of the opportunity and contributed to India's overall medal tally with her silver medal win
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