NEW DELHI: In the season-ending ISSF World Cup Final, Rhythm Sangwan will be the only shooter from India to compete in two events. This is because double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker chose to take a three-month break after her performances in the Paris Games.
A 23-member Indian squad has been announced by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) for the competition, which will take place at the Dr.Karni Singh Shooting Range from October 13 to October 18 in the rifle, pistol, and shotgun categories.
Nine athletes from the Paris Olympics team, which came back with three bronze medals, are on the team.
Eleven Indian Olympians will compete in 12 different Olympic sports to determine who will be the best shooter of the year and the world’s finest.
The 22-year-old Bhaker made history for India in Paris when she won bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol and the mixed 10m air pistol team event (in the latter, she was paired with Sarabjot Singh). The Indian shooters taking part in the prestigious competition in the country’s capital will try to maintain the momentum at the well-known range.
“We have a strong squad of proven performers for the ISSF year-ender and look forward to a strong performance. Expectations from the sport have reached sky-high after the Paris performance…,” said Sultan Singh, secretary general, NRAI.
The ISSF directly selected four shooters: Divyansh Singh Panwar (men’s 10m air rifle), Sonam Uttam Maskar (women’s 10m air rifle), Rhythm (women’s 10m air pistol & 25m pistol), and Ganemat Sekhon (women’s skeet). The remaining members were chosen based on their results from the Olympic trials.
Surbhi Rao will compete alongside 20-year-old Rhythm in the women’s 10m air pistol event.
The team has welcomed back seasoned shooters and Olympians Mairaj Ahmed Khan (men’s skeet) and Chain Singh (men’s 50m rifle 3 positions).
Anish and Vijayveer Sidhu (men’s 25m rapid-fire pistol), Shreyasi Singh and Rajeshwari Kumari (women’s trap), Maheshwari Chauhan (women’s skeet), and Anant Jeet Singh Naruka (men’s skeet) are the other Olympians from Paris in addition to Rhythm.
The Indian squad: