India’s Ramita Jindal created history as she qualified for the medal round of the Women’s 10m Air Rifle on Sunday, July 28 as compatriot Elavenil Valarivan missed out. Ramita became the second female shooter in the last 20 years, after Manu Bhaker to reach the medal round. Ramita is the first Indian female rifle shooter since her coach Suma Shirur (Athens 2004) to make it to Olympic final. Ramita had scored 631.5 as it had seemed till the final series that she wouldn’t make the cut. Ramita finished 5th in the rankings to make it to the medal round. Elavenil was leading at the halfway mark but the next 3 series saw her fall way behind and eventually finished 10th in the qualifying round. The final series proved to be the difference for both Indians, as they were aiming to put behind the disappointment of the mixed team event behind them.
