Adriana Ruano Oliva of Guatemala made history by winning the women’s trap gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Her performance, which included a Games record of 45 out of 50 targets, secured Guatemala’s first-ever Olympic gold in any sport. Italy’s Silvana Stanco claimed silver, while Australia’s Penny Smith took bronze.
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has allowed trap marksman Karan to participate in Olympic selection trials despite missing the requisite score, sparking controversy. While multiple shooters with identical scores were not considered, an exception was made for Karan after a recommendation from the Army. NRAI secretary Rajiv Bhatia justifies the decision based on Karan’s budding talent and previous scores, emphasizing that the federation cannot be bound by strict rules. However, this decision has raised questions about the fairness of the selection process and prompted criticism from former national coach Jaspal Rana. The NRAI’s insistence on strict criteria in ongoing legal battles with Olympic aspirants has drawn attention to this inconsistency.
