India names 23-man squad for New Delhi event

The National Rifle Association of India has announced a 23-member Indian squad for the ISSF World Cup Finals for Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun. The finals will be held at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi from October 13 to 18.

The Indian team comprises nine members from the Paris 2024 Olympics team, which returned with three bronze medals. There are 11 Olympians in total, who will compete in 12 individual Olympic events.

Sarabjot Singh, Manu Bhaker and Swapnil Kusale, who won three bronze medals at the Paris Olympics, have not been included in the squad.

“We have a strong line-up of proven performers for the final ISSF year and look forward to a strong performance,” said Kunwar Sultan Singh, NRAI Secretary General.

Four shooters, Divyansh Singh Panwar (men’s 10m air rifle), Sonam Uttam Maskar (women’s 10m air rifle), Rhythm Sangwan (women’s 10m air pistol and women’s 25m pistol) and Ganemat Sekhon (women’s skeet) were selected directly by the ISSF based on their ISSF rankings, while the rest availed of the host nation’s quota by using the results of the Olympic ranking events.

Experienced shooters and Olympians Mairaj Ahmed Khan (men’s skeet) and Chain Singh (men’s 50m rifle 3 positions) will once again represent India. Besides Sangwan, other Paris Olympians in the squad include Arjun Babuta (men’s 10m air rifle), Arjun Singh Cheema (men’s 10m air pistol), Anish Bhanwala 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).

Sangwan is the only shooter who participates in two events.

Indian selection

Air rifle men: Divyansh Singh Panwar, Arjun Babuta

Air rifle women: Sonam Uttam Maskar, Tilottama Senator

50m 3-position rifle men: Chain Singh, Akhil Sheoran

50m 3-position rifle women: Ashi Chouksey, Nischal

Air pistol men: Arjun Singh Cheema, Varun Tomar

Air pistol women: Rhythm Sangwan, Surbhi Rao

25m rapid fire pistol men: Anish Bhanwala, Vijayveer Sidhu

25m sports pistol women: Rhythm Sangwan, Simranpreet Kaur Brar

Men in the Trap: Vivaan Kapoor, Bhowneesh Mendiratta

Women catch: Rajeshwari Kumari, Shreyasi Singh

Clay Pigeon Men: Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Mairaj Ahmad Khan

Skeet women: Ganemat Sekhon, Maheshwari Chauhan