Olympics 2024: Former Shooters Back Sarabjot Singh to Come Good in His Second Shot at Medal in Paris

Former shooters Gagan Narang and Samaresh Jung come in support of Sarabjot Singh after the Indian 10m Air Pistol shooter missed out on reaching the final by finest of margins in Paris Olympics 2024.

In the qualification round on Saturday (July 27), Sarabjot finished ninth with a total score of 577, tied with Germany's Robin Walter, who grabbed the last (eighth) qualifying spot after managing to shoot one inner 10 (X) more than Sarabjot's 16.

A perfect 100 in the fourth series propelled the 22-year-old Sarabjot into the top-three after a poor start but he failed to sustain the momentum and fizzled out in the final two rounds, especially in the fifth when he shot 93.

Following the disappointment of missing out by a whisker, India's Chef de Mission Narang consoled shooter Sarabjot, backing the Indian shooter to take his second shot at the medal.

"No one can understand how Sarabjot feels like I do. I faced a similar situation missing out on a count back in 2008 Beijing Olympics," Narang, a London 2012 bronze medallist in 10m air rifle, wrote on X. "Chin up @sarabjotsingh30 you have one more event.. You got this.. come back stronger and conquer the world my friend."

Meanwhile, former Commonwealth Games champion shooter Jung backed Sarabjot to bounce back, saying anybody can feel pressure except two kinds of people.

"There are only two types of people who don't feel pressure. One are the dead and others are fools. He is neither dead nor a fool," Jung, who is part of the coaching staff in Paris, was quoted as saying to PTI in the Olympics mixed zone.

Sarabjot, who is set to team up with Manu Bhaker in the mixed team 10m air pistol event on Monday (July 29), said he can't comprehend how the individual qualification round transpired, but is confident of correcting his lapses.

"I tried my best but I had an off day as I couldn't comprehend how the events transpired. I tried to give my best but unfortunately it didn't happen," Sarabjot told the official broadcaster.

"However, it's fine since it was my first Olympics and I got good experience as I learnt a lot of things. I still have some shortcomings in my technique, I'm failing at certain things. I will go back and correct them.

"It felt like a normal game. I looked back once which got me distracted and my next series got ruined. I never focussed on the scoreboard and was just focussed on my technique. Yes, my focus will just be on mixed team event and will prepare for that."