NEW DELHI: Teenager
Raiza Dhillon
earned India's 18th quota place for the
Paris Games
, clinching a silver medal in the women's skeet event at the
Asia Olympic Qualification
for Shotgun in Kuwait City on Saturday.
Dhillon dominated the six-women final, leading until the midway point. However, the 19-year-old suffered a slight setback and missed two-three targets, allowing China's Jinmei Gao to seize the lead.
Gao eventually secured the gold medal with an impressive score of 56 targets out of 60 in the final while Dhillon finished in second place with a commendable 52 hits.
Both Gao and Dhillon secured a Paris Games quota each for their respective country.
Dhillon's compatriot Maheshwari Chauhan settled for the bronze with 43, while Ganemat Sekhon, the other Indian shooter in the final, ended in fourth position with 30.
To begin with, Dhillon was on top of the table with six out of six targets. The Indian continued to lead the final with 14 hits, remaining two ahead of Gao.
However, in what was turning out to be an engrossing final, Dhillon then missed two targets as Gao went in lead for the first time in the competition.
Dhillon missed again in the next outing as the Chinese maintained her lead to leave the two Indians -- Dhillon and Chauhan -- to fight for the silver medal. Dhillon prevailed to enter the fight for the gold medal, as Chauhan left her station with bronze.
Dhillon missed twice at the start of gold medal contest, as Gao led by three points to seal the issue in her favour.
Earlier, Sekhon was second in the qualification with a total score of 117, Chauhan was placed third with 115 after prevailing in shoot-off with Qatar's Al Sharshani Reem, while Dhillon qualified for the final in sixth place, completing the top six lineup.
(With inputs from PTI)
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