Olympics-Shooting-Georgian woman in medal contention for finals
BEIJING, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Georgia's Nino Salukvadze, one of 35 Olympic athletes told to stay in Beijing despite conflict with Russia at home, qualified in medal contention for the finals of the women's 10m air pistol event on Sunday.
Salukvadze shot a 386 in Sunday morning's qualification and was in fourth place going into the final.
Russia's Natalia Paderina, the 2006 world champion, had the highest score in the qualification -- 391. Wenjun Guo of China was in second with 390 and Munkzul Tsogbadrah of Mongolia was in third position, just one ahead of Salukvadze.
Georgia's team offered to withdraw over the conflict with Russia in South Ossetia. But President Mikheil Saakashvili sent a message overnight instructing them to stay.
Saakashvili's message to continue was relayed to the team at a 0200 (1800 GMT) meeting on Sunday by the country's first lady who is in Beijing, spokesman Giorgi Tchanishvili told Reuters.
"The whole team has had hardly any sleep," he said. "We were ready to leave the Olympic Games and we were waiting until very late for this decision.
"The First Lady (Sandra) then addressed the whole team in the Olympic Village at about 2am and told us we should stay in the best interest of the country."
Earlier, the National Olympic Committee had said it would be willing to quit the Games because of the violence in Georgia.
Saakashvili called for a ceasefire on Saturday after Russian bombers widened an offensive to force back Georgian troops seeking control over the breakaway region of South Ossetia. (Editing by Keith Weir)
