In a significant achievement, young Indian shooters Varun Tomar and Esha Singh secured two Olympic quota places for India on Monday by clinching gold medals in the men’s and women’s 10m Air Pistol events at the Asian Qualifiers. This success elevated India’s total number of shooters heading to Paris to 15, equaling the highest-ever tally achieved during the Tokyo Games. The duo’s exceptional performance showcased their prowess on the international stage.
Varun Tomar, at 20 years old, demonstrated his skills in the men’s event, scoring 239.6 in the final to claim the top position. Arjun Cheema secured the silver medal with a score of 237.3, while Mongolia’s Davaakhuu Enkhtaivan won the bronze with a score of 217.2. Tomar’s achievement was not limited to individual success; he, along with Cheema and Ujjawal Malik, secured the 10m air pistol team gold by accumulating a total of 1740 points.
Esha Singh, aged 19, continued India’s success by winning gold in the women’s event with a score of 243.1. The silver went to Pakistan’s Kishmala Talat (236.3), and Esha’s compatriot Rhythm Sangwan secured the bronze with a score of 214.5. Esha, along with Rhythm Sangwan and Surbhi Rao, also clinched the team gold medal with a combined score of 1736.
Varun Tomar’s background as the cousin of Tokyo Olympian Saurabh Chaudhary, who won a gold medal in the 2018 Asian Games, added a familial connection to the achievement. Tomar highlighted the guidance he received from Chaudhary, stating, “It helped that I had someone like Saurabh to take guidance from as I don’t have anyone in the family who is a shooter.”
Esha Singh’s success holds significance not only for her individual performance but also for the team, contributing to India’s total quota places for the Paris Olympics. Her father, Sachin Singh, expressed optimism about Esha’s potential in the 25m sports pistol event in Paris, following her accomplishment in the 10m air pistol event.
The Asian Qualifiers witnessed a total of 16 quota places available for the Paris Olympics across various events. The achievements of Varun Tomar and Esha Singh added to India’s success in securing Olympic quota places in shooting, reflecting the country’s growing prowess in the sport on the global stage. The tournament in Jakarta featured 385 athletes from 26 countries competing for a total of 256 medals, including 84 gold, 84 silver, and 88 bronze medals, alongside the coveted Paris quotas.
