Jaypal Malviya secures India's first shooting quota for LA Olympics 2028

Jaypal Malviya announced his arrival on the big stage in style, securing India's first shooting quota for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics with a silver medal in the men's 10m air pistol event at the ISSF World Championships in Doha on Thursday.

The 23-year-old from Madhya Pradesh produced a breakthrough performance in the eight-man final, finishing second with a score of 242.2. China's Kai Hu claimed gold with 243.9 points, while Czechia's Jindrich Dubovy settled for bronze with 220.9.

Malviya's achievement provided a major boost to the Indian shooting contingent on a day when two of its biggest stars, Manu Bhaker and Suruchi Inder Singh, failed to convert their opportunities into Olympic quota places in the women's 10m air pistol event.

Manu, a double bronze medallist at the Paris 2024 Olympics, finished fifth with 179.9 points, while Suruchi was eliminated in sixth place with 158.3. Both had qualified for the eight-shooter final but missed out on the three available quota places.

India did, however, win the women's team silver through Manu, Suruchi and Sainyam, who combined for 1,738 points, behind China's 1,745.

Malviya's silver ensured that India did not return empty-handed from the individual Olympic quota race on Thursday. His performance also underlined the emergence of another promising name in Indian shooting. Courtesy: ISSF World Championships MALVIYA HOLDS HIS NERVE TO CLAIM HISTORIC SILVERMalviya entered the final after finishing third in qualification with a score of 585 across six series. He carried that momentum into the medal round, although his start was far from perfect.

He shot 9.2 on his second attempt in the opening five-shot series but recovered with a 10.6 on his final shot to finish with 50.5 points, occupying third place behind Hu.

The Indian slipped to fourth after completing his next series with 100 points, but refused to let the challenge slip away. A crucial 10.7 helped him regain ground as the contest intensified.

Malviya subsequently moved into second place, closing the gap on Hu to just 0.5 points. Even after a 9.7 threatened to derail his challenge, he responded with a vital 10.7 to remain firmly in contention.

The Indian eventually finished with silver, securing both a historic World Championships medal and India's first shooting quota for LA 2028.

"The environment is great. The crowd was very loud and motivated me. I would like to thank the federation, SAI, OGQ and the MP and Indian government. I am grateful to Samaresh Jung sir. I feel great that I could bring the quota and medal to the country," Malviya said after his achievement.

The youngster's rise has been particularly encouraging. He won the men's 10m air pistol Trial 1 gold at the 2026 National Selection Trials in New Delhi, producing 245.6 in the final after qualifying seventh.

He also finished ninth at the 2026 ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, narrowly missing the final despite shooting 585 in qualification.

His Doha breakthrough now gives Indian shooting an early foothold in the qualification race for the Los Angeles Olympics.- Ends