A proud Lesley Stewart finished 13th in the R8 Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions qualification after three years out with a major injury.
Stewart finished two places ahead of ParalympicsGB team-mate Lorraine Lambert in a high-scoring qualification event.
The Blairgowrie shooter scored 1133, just 14 off the eighth and final qualifying spot, while Lambert ended in 15th with a score of 1121.
Both shooters were consistent as they moved through the three positions of kneeling, prone and standing, neither shooting below 90.
Sweden’s Anna Norman qualified with a new qualification world record of 1177, shooting four 100s and never dropping under 94.
“It has been a great experience for me at my first Paralympic Games,” said the 42-year-old Stewart. “I only qualified for these Games two months ago, so it has been a very quick turnaround from qualification to performing here in Tokyo.
“After three years out with major injury, I am so proud to have made it here and be part of a great team. This will make me stronger and know more about performing at major Games and I will reflect and learn from the experience.
“The support from the whole team has been immense as has the welcome here in Tokyo.”
For Portsmouth’s Lambert, it was a case of what might have been, though her time in Tokyo is not done yet.
Lambert added: “Today’s performance really does not reflect where I have been in training so I am frustrated that I was not able to be in contention for the final.
“I had a difficult start in the kneeling but pushed through and finished strongly in the standing element so I’m proud that I continued to fight.
“However I have another opportunity to compete in the 50m prone event on Sunday and I am now going to put this behind me and focus fully on that event.”
Courtesy of ParalympicsGB
