Chateauroux (France). The team full of shooters making their Olympic debut will aim to succeed in the shooting competition in Chateauroux, France on Friday, free from the burden of past performances. India has so far won a total of four Olympic medals in shooting, but the account remained empty in the last two Olympics, which has increased the additional pressure of expectations on the record 21-member Indian contingent. The National Shooting Association of India (NRAI) has given preference to the current form to select the team and it is hopeful that this time they will win medals here.
That is why the quota winners were also put in the trials in which the less experienced Sandeep Singh defeated 2022 world champion Rudraksh Patil, who had secured a quota for India in the 10m air rifle. Patil wrote a letter to the NRAI requesting to retain him in the trials, but the federation stood by its decision. Except Manu Bhaker, Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar, Anjum Moudgil and Elavenil Valarivan, all other shooters will experience the Olympic stage for the first time. India will participate in 15 shooting events.
22-year-old Manu, who has won many medals in world events, could not recover from a malfunction in the pistol in the 10 meter air pistol qualification in the Tokyo Olympics. But this time she would like to perform better, she will participate in three events including 10 meter air pistol, 25 meter pistol and 10 meter pistol mixed team. India will mainly face challenge from China, which is fielding 21 shooters in various events. All eyes will also be on another female shooter Sifat Kaur Samra, who won the gold medal in 50 meter rifle three position in the Asian Games.
One of the experienced shooters, Moudgil is making a comeback and will compete with Sifat in the women’s 50m rifle 3 position. Twenty-year-old Rhythm Sangwan will participate in two events, 10m air pistol and 10m air pistol mixed team. Sangwan said, “Preparation is going well. The range is good. I was a little upset to stay away from the sports village in Paris. It is not as expected. I have come here to compete and win. The Olympics is the biggest stage here.” Among the male shooters, only Tomar has been a part of the Olympics before.
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