Rio de Janeiro (Brazil): Disappointed after not being able to qualify for the final of the 10m Air rifle women’s event here at the Olympic Shooting Centre, Indian shooter Ayonika Paul on Sunday said now her next aim is 2020 Olympics.
“I was not there in the finals.I am pretty disappointed of course because I had done a lot of preparations and technical training. I was pretty prepared from all angles but it didn’t turn out the way I had planned. My next aim is 2020 Olympics,” Paul told ANI.
Meanwhile in the men’s 10m Air Pistol category, Gurpreet Singh who failed to qualify for the final after he finished 20th expressed hope for the upcoming 25 m event.
“I did not perform well today. I was well prepared, but the score came down because of some shots. There is still an event left.25 metre rapid fire. I will hopefully perform well in that one,” Singh told ANI.
Another Indian shooter Apurvi Chandra finished 34 with a total score of 411.6 while Ayonika was 47th with a score of 403 in the qualification round.
Li Du of China set an Olympic record in the competition with a score of 420.7 to finish first in the qualification round.
Germany’s Barbara Engleder finished second with 420.3 ahead of Elaheh Ahmadi of Iran (417.8).
Shooting forms the country’s biggest medal hope in the world’s biggest sporting extravaganza.
Ace marksman Jitu Rai and Gurpreet Singh will be in action in the men’s 10m air pistol event.
Indian rower Dattu Bhokanal progressed through to the quarterfinals of the men’s single sculls event after finishing third in the first heat at the Rio Olympics. (ANI)