Who is Rhythm Sangwan? All you need to know about the Indian shooter competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Rhythm Sangwan is a name you’ll want to remember as she’s quickly becoming a standout in Indian shooting. At just 20 years old, Rhythm is set to make a big splash at the Paris 2024 Olympics, competing in the 10m air pistol and 25m air pistol events.
Rhythm made the heads turn on her when she broke a 29-year-old world record in the women's 25m pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Baku, scoring 595 in the qualification round. The previous world record was of 594, set by Bulgarian shooter Diana Iorgova in 1994.
Later that year, Rhythm Sangwan won the gold medal in the women's 25m pistol team event at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, partnering Manu Bhaker and Esha Singh.
In 2024, Rhythm’s bronze medal at the Asian Shooting Championships secured a record 16th quota for India in shooting for the Paris Olympics.
Rhythm Sangwan's career in brief
Rhythm Sangwan’s journey into the world of shooting began almost by chance when she was 13. A visit to the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range sparked an interest that soon turned into a passion. Her father, Narender Kumar, a police officer, played a crucial role, introducing her to guns early on and connecting her with her mentor, Vinit Kumar. From there, Rhythm’s dedication to the sport grew rapidly.
In less than a year, Rhythm Sangwan was already making headlines by winning three gold medals in individual events at the 2017 National Shooting Championship, along with a silver in the women's team event. This was just the beginning of her rise in the shooting world.
By 2021, Rhythm had made a significant mark at the junior level, claiming four gold medals at the Junior World Championships. The following year, she continued her streak with two golds at the ISSF Junior Cup in Germany. Her transition to senior competitions was seamless, as she bagged two gold medals at the 2022 ISSF World Cup in Cairo.
She’s now set to compete in the women’s 10m air pistol and mixed team events, with her sights firmly set on Olympic gold – a dream she’s been chasing for years.