Gagan Narang bags India's third Olympic Quota place at Fort Benning, USA


New Delhi, 16 May 2015: Olympic Bronze medalist Gagan Narang, earned India it’s third quota place in the road to the Rio Olympics 2016. The ace marksman also gave India its first medal at the ongoing ISSF Rifle & Pistol World Cup after he won the Bronze medal in the 50M Prone Rifle event at Fort Benning last night (according to IST).

Gagan shot a total of 185.8 to return with the Bronze medal and an Olympic Quota position. The event had two quota places up for grabs. Michael McPhail of the USA who also won the Gold medal shooting an overall score of 208.8, won the other quota place. Norway’s Ole Kristian Bryhn won the Silver medal shooting a total of 206.3.

Gagan Narang is a powerhouse of Indian shooting, and he has proved it again by earning India its third quota position for the Rio Olympics. I would like to congratulate him on winning the Bronze medal and the quota place for India. This only showcases the depth in the Indian shooting contingent, and we are very hopeful of seeing many more results like this in the future in the run up to the Rio Olympics,” said Mr. Raninder Singh, President, NRAI congratulating Gagan on his win.

Earlier both Gagan and India’s only individual Gold medalist Abhinav Bindra had missed out in securing a birth in the finals of the 10M Air Pistol event. India has secured three Olympic quota places till now. Pistol ace Jitu Rai had won India its first quotal place in Granada, Spain last year winning the Silver in the 50M Free Pistol event, while Apurvi Chandela earned the second quota place for the country in Changwon, Korea last month winning the Bronze medal in 10M Rifle event.

The other important events for the day are the Women’s Air Pistol and Men’s rapid fire pistol categories where a total of three and two quota places are up for grabs respectively.

In total each country can earn up to 30-quota places for the Rio Olympics from 15 shooting disciplines and 24 places are up for grabs at Fort Benning USA.