Shooting – BBC Sport

By Lewis Coombes

BBC Sport in Chateauroux

Britain’s Seonaid McIntosh missed out on qualification for the women’s 10m air rifle final after her rifle malfunctioned during the warm-up.

Her father Donald, who is her coach, set about fixing the gun, armed with a tool box, with minutes until the competition’s start.

McIntosh scored 624.5 after her 60 shots, finishing 37th and did not progress to tomorrow’s final.

Hyojin Ban from South Korea top scored with 634.5, a new Olympic qualifying record.

McIntosh told BBC Sport: “It’s not been my day. Immediately I knew there was something wrong. The two sights weren’t lining up.

“We bought a spare gun for situations like this. So we ran and got that gun. A lot of thoughts all at once.. “How do we fix it? How fast can I fix it? While trying to stay calm and not get phased by it.”

The issue is understood to have been related to the gun’s barrel, which was completely replaced.

While the rest of the field started the competition, Seonaid was a delayed entry allowed additional time for practice, before eventually re-joining the field.

The 28-year-old showed great composure under the additional pressure, clearly seen to be relying on breathing techniques to stay calm.

She added: “I’m disappointed by the result. But I did work really hard and had to work extra hard because of all the big problems at the start. I did my best and that’s all I can really ask of myself, I guess.

“I had a look at the sight afterwards and there’s a big crack in it. I’m thinking when it’s gone into the armoury it’s fallen over or something.

“I’ll be a bit more cautious with my 50m gun, maybe take the sights off at night-time and things and make sure everything is packed safely.

“At least it’s this time and not my last competition.”

McIntosh returns next week for her favoured event – 50m rifle three positions – in which she is world number one.