Paris Olympics: Vijayveer Sidhu, Anish Bhanwala, Maheshwari Chauhan Falter at Crucial Stages in Shooting Qualification Rounds; Exit Medal Run

Indian shooters Vijayveer Sidhu, Anish Bhanwala, and Maheshwari Chauhan faced disappointment in their respective shooting events at the Paris Olympics in Châteauroux on Sunday, August 4.

Despite showing promise early on, all three faltered when it mattered most, missing out on a place in the medal rounds. Anish and Vijayveer were competing in the Men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Qualification Round while Maheshwari competed with Raiza Dhillon in the Women's Skeet Qualification Round.

Vijayveer Sidhu's journey began with high hopes as he demonstrated excellent shooting, holding the second spot with a strong 98 out of 100 in one of his series. His aggregate score at one point stood at an impressive 393/400 (19x), positioning him strongly for a final-round berth.

However, the pressure of the final series proved too much. Sidhu shot two 8s, resulting in a disappointing score of 92 out of 100. This performance dropped him to the ninth position with an aggregate score of 583/600 (26x), just missing the top six cut-offs for the finals.

Anish Bhanwala's performance mirrored Sidhu's in terms of initial promise followed by a critical slip. Bhanwala was in contention, holding the eighth spot after shooting scores of 99 and 97 in his earlier series. He needed a strong finish to secure a place in the finals.

However, he managed only 93 out of 100 in his final series, which brought his total to 582/600 (22x), placing him in the 13th position. His early lead and potential were overshadowed by his inability to maintain consistency under pressure.

Similar Fate for Women's Skeet Shooter Maheshwari Chauhan

In a parallel event, India's Women's Skeet Shooter Maheshwari Chauhan experienced a similar fate. Chauhan, who had moved up to the sixth position, the final qualifying spot, with a strong score of 25 out of 25 in her fourth round, saw her hopes dashed in the final round.

Her poor performance in the last series cost her a place in the medal round. Meanwhile, her compatriot Raiza Dhillon finished in 25th position, unable to make a significant impact in the qualification stages that took place over two days.

The Men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event had high expectations for the Indian shooters, especially after their promising starts. Both Sidhu and Bhanwala displayed remarkable skill and potential but ultimately could not withstand the pressure in the final stages of qualification.

Similarly, Maheshwari Chauhan's strong performance early on was not enough to secure her a place in the medal round. Their performances highlight the thin line between success and failure in high-stakes competitive shooting. As the competition continues, the focus will shift to other Indian athletes, hoping to bring glory to the nation at the Paris Olympics.