Paris 2024 Paralympics: Rubina Francis wins bronze medal in 10m air pistol SH1 shooting

Para shooter Rubina Francis bagged a bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol SH1 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics with a score of 211.1 in the final on Saturday.

Sareh Javanmardi of the Islamic Republic of Iran won the gold medal, finishing with a tally of 236.8 while Aysel Ozgan of Turkiye finished second with a score of 231.1 to take the silver.

After 20 shots, with the fourth shooter eliminated, Rubina Francis was confirmed a podium finish and was second with a score of 193. However, she hit a 9.2 and 8.9 on her final two shots, allowing Aysel Ozgan to leap ahead.

Rubina Francis competed in the same event at Tokyo 2020 and reached the final. However, she finished seventh with a total of 128.5.

At Paris 2024, Rubina achieved a score of 556 in the qualification round and finished sixth to qualify for the final.

Rubina had a successful campaign heading into the Paralympic year. She won a silver medal at the Para World Championships 2023 in Lima, Peru and followed it up with a bronze medal at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, the People’s Republic of China.

This is India’s fifth Paralympic medal at the ongoing Games and fourth in shooting. Avani Lekhara defended her title in the women’s 10m air rifle shooting standing SH1 while Mona Agarwal bagged a bronze in the same event. Manish Narwal won a silver medal in men’s 10m air pistol SH1.

In the SH1 shooting class, athletes have an impairment affecting one arm and/or the legs, for example resulting from amputations or spinal cord injuries. They are allowed to shoot from a standing or sitting position (in a wheelchair or chair).