Silver Success: Jaypal Malviya Secures India's First LA 28 Olympic Quota
Jaypal Malviya clinches silver at the ISSF World Championship in Doha, securing India's first Olympic quota for Los Angeles 2028.
In a high-stakes showdown at the Lusail Shooting Complex in Doha, Jaypal Malviya delivered a masterclass in composure to clinch the silver medal in the men's 10m air pistol event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Championship. More importantly, this stellar performance has earned him the distinction of securing India's very first quota place for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
A Battle of Nerves and Precision
With three coveted Olympic quota spots up for grabs, the pressure was immense. Jaypal rose to the occasion, finishing the 24-shot final with an impressive score of 242.2. While China's Hu Kai took the gold and the first quota with a score of 243.9, Jaypal's consistency ensured he stayed on the podium.
The Indian marksman was a force to be reckoned with from the start. He opened with a strong 50.5 in the first series, reaching 100.0 by the end of the second. As the competition entered the elimination stages, Jaypal separated himself from the rest of the field by firing a series of high-10s, including precise hits of 10.7 and 10.8. His steady hand in the closing moments allowed him to keep Czechia's Jindrich Dubovy—who took the bronze and the third quota with 220.9—at bay.
Women's Team Shines with Silver
The success for India wasn't limited to the men's individual event. Earlier in the day, the Indian women's 10m air pistol squad showcased exceptional teamwork to secure a silver medal. The trio, consisting of double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker, Suruchi Inder Singh, and Sainyam, combined for an aggregate total of 1738, featuring 61 inner 10s.
- Manu Bhaker: Led the charge with a qualification total of 583-21x, highlighted by a perfect 100 in her fourth series.
- Suruchi Inder Singh: Provided a steady contribution of 580-24x.
- Sainyam: The junior world champion added 575-16x to ensure the silver medal.
In the women's team event, China claimed the gold with 1745-65x, while the Republic of Korea took the bronze with 1729-49x.
Mixed Results in Individual and Men's Team Events
While the team performance was strong, the individual results for the women were a bit more heartbreaking. Manu Bhaker finished fifth and Suruchi Singh finished sixth in the women's 10m air pistol individual final, meaning both missed out on podium finishes and individual Olympic quotas for LA 2028.
In the men's team competition, India finished in seventh place with a combined aggregate of 1730-58x. Jaypal Malviya was the standout performer for the team, recording a qualification mark of 585-23x, which placed him third heading into the individual final. He was supported by Kamaljeet, who shot 580-20x (finishing 27th in individual qualifying), and Ravin Kumar, who recorded 565-15x.
The men's team podium was dominated by China (gold, 1755-66x), the Republic of Korea (silver, 1738-62x), and Uzbekistan (bronze, 1738-44x).