This is an archive article published on August 31, 2024

Who is Rubina Francis, pistol shooter who won India’s fifth medal at Paris Paralympics

Rubina Francis's journey in para shooting began in 2015, inspired by her admiration for Olympics medallist Gagan Narang. Despite financial hurdles, her determination led her to Pune's Gun for Glory Academy in 2017.

Rubina Francis won India's fifth medal at the Paris Paralympics on Saturday. (PHOTOS: Screengrabs via Paralympics YouTube)

By: Sports Desk

3 min readSep 1, 2024 04:23 PM IST First published on: Aug 31, 2024 at 07:02 PM IST

Rubina Francis wins bronze medal: Rubina Francis, a para shooter from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, claimed India’s fifth medal at the Paris Paralympics on Saturday, after bringing home bronze in the P2 – 10m Air Pistol SH1 event.

Rubina Francis scored a total of 211.1 to finish third in the eight-woman final. She had qualified for the final at seventh spot in the qualification round earlier in the day. Rubina Francis became India’s fourth medallist at Paris Paralympics in shooting, after Avani Lekhara (gold), Mona Agarwal (bronze) and Manish Narwal (silver).

Rubina Francis bio

Rubina Francis was born into a lower-middle-class family with a leg dysfunction. Her mechanic father, Simon Francis, struggled to support her growing passion for shooting amidst financial constraints.

Rubina Francis’s journey in shooting began in 2015, inspired by her admiration for Gagan Narang’s Olympic achievements. Despite the financial hurdles, her determination led her to Jabalpur’s Gun for Glory Academy in 2017, with her father’s tireless efforts.

Under the mentorship of Jai Prakash Nautiyal, Rubina Francis’s talent quickly became evident, leading to her selection at the MP Shooting Academy. There, under the guidance of renowned coach Jaspal Rana, her skills flourished, earning her first international medal.

The turning point in her career came during the 2018 France World Cup, where Rubina Francis realised the importance of securing a Paralympic quota, driving her to intensify her training. In 2019, Purnatva Academy of Sports Shooting recognised her potential, and under the expert guidance of Chief Coach Subhash Rana, Rubina Francis’s shooting prowess blossomed. 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. As India’s First Woman Pistol Para Shooter, Rubina Francis’s story is a testament to resilience, determination, and the transformative power of sport in overcoming adversity.

Rubina Francis achievements

Paralympics Games (2020) – 7th place (P2 – 10m Air Pistol)

Asian Para Games (2022) – Bronze Medal (P2 – 10m Air Pistol)

Osijek World Cup (2023) – Silver Medal (P2 – 10m Air Pistol) & Bronze Medal (P5 – Mixed 10m Air Pistol)

Changwon World Cup (2023) – 2 Silver Medals (P2 (Team) – 10m Air Pistol & P5 – Mixed 10m Air Pistol) and Bronze Medal (P2 – 10m Air Pistol)

Changwon World Cup (2022) – Silver Medal (P2 (Team) – 10m Air Pistol) & 2 Bronze Medals (P2 – 10m Air Pistol & P6 Mixed Team)

Chateauroux World Cup (2022) – 1 Gold Medal (P6 Mixed Team), 2 Silver Medals (P2 (Team) – 10m Air Pistol & P5 – Mixed 10m Air Pistol) and Bronze (P2 – 10m Air Pistol)