New Delhi: Indian para shooter Rubina Francis claimed bronze medal on Saturday in the women’s 10m air pistol SH1 event held at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre in the ongoing Paris Paralympics 2024. The 24-year-old shooter from Madhya Pradesh accounted for India’s fifth medal at the quadrennial showpiece with fourth one coming from the para shooting contingent.
Rubina accumulated 211.1 points from 22 shots to settle for the third place even though she was close to grab a silver medal after completion of 18 shots. Nevertheless, Rubina should be satisfied with a podium finish this time after she finished seventh in the final of Tokyo Paralympics three years ago.
Rubina Francis’ journey to para shooting
Rubina Francis was born on June 25, 1999, in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur district. She faced the challenge of leg dysfunction and her lower-middle-class family wasn’t in a position to support her passion for shooting amidst financial constraints.
It was 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist Gagan Narang, who inspired a young Rubina to follow shooting as a path despite financial hurdles. She started her journey in 2015. With her father’s tremendous efforts, putting the hard yards behind the scenes, Rubina was able to join the Gun for Glory Academy in Pune in 2017.
She was groomed under the mentorship of Mr. Jai Prakash Nautiyal in the early stage of her para shooting journey. Rubina Francis later joined Jaspal Rana, who is also the coach of double-Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker, at the MP Shooting Academy. Rana’s guidance helped the MP youngster to enhance her skillset.
The turning point for Rubina Francis
The turning point in Rubina’s career came during the 2018 France World Cup, where she understood the significance of securing a Paralympic quota. She intensified her training sessions in pursuit of the quota.
In 2019, Purnatva Academy of Sports Shooting recognised her potential, and under the expert guidance of chief coach Subhash Rana, Rubina’s shooting prowess blossomed once again. She went on to win numerous medals at national and international levels, setting world records along the way.
Her crowning achievement came at the Lima 2021 World Cup, where she secured the Paralympic Quota in the P2 category, paving the way for her representation of India at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympic Games. She finished seventh in the final with a total of 128.1 points at the Asaka Shooting Range.
Rubina secured the Paris Paralympics quota under the bipartite (wildcard) rule a few days before the contingent’s departure for Paris.
(With agency inputs)
The 24-year-old Rubina Francis from Madhya Pradesh accounted for India’s fifth medal at the quadrennial showpiece with fourth one coming from the para shooting contingent. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
