Indian Shooters Gear Up for ISSF World Cup in Munich

As the ISSF World Cup kicks off in Munich, Indian shooters are set to compete in the men's 10m Air Pistol and Air Rifle events. With a mix of seasoned athletes and promising newcomers, the Indian squad aims to make a mark against a backdrop of elite global competitors. The event promises thrilling contests as top shooters from around the world vie for medals and ranking points. Don't miss the opening day schedule and key matchups that could define the competition.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 25, 2026, 18:32 IST

Indian Shooters Set for ISSF World Cup in Munich

The ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol in Munich kicks off with two finals in the men's 10m Air Pistol and 10m Air Rifle events on Tuesday.

This prestigious annual competition will take place at the Olympiaschiessanlage in Munich, featuring 696 athletes from 80 nations, including numerous Olympic and World Champions. The Indian contingent, comprising 22 shooters, blends seasoned competitors with promising newcomers, including four first-time senior participants: Suraj Sharma, Sakshi Padekar, Ajendra Singh Chauhan, and Udhayveer Sidhu, who is making his senior World Cup debut in an Olympic event. Additionally, 13 athletes will compete in Munich for ranking points.

Men's 10m Air Pistol Challenge

Leading the Indian team in the 10m Air Pistol event is World Champion Samrat Rana, accompanied by Sharvan Kumar and debutant Ajendra Singh Chauhan. They will face formidable opponents, including China's Hu Kai, who dominated last year's World Cups and secured a silver medal behind Samrat at the World Championships.

Other notable competitors include 19-year-old Bu Shuaihang from China, who recently won gold in Granada, German shooting icon Christian Reitz, and Paris Olympic medallists Federico Nilo Maldini and Paolo Monna from Italy, along with Turkey's Yusuf Dikec and Brazil's Felipe Almeida Wu, a silver medallist from the 2016 Olympics. A total of 153 shooters will participate in this event.

Samrat has shown promising form this season, having won bronze at the Asian Championships in New Delhi, his only major competition so far. Sharvan returns to the World Cup after a three-year hiatus, aiming to improve on his fourth-place finish at the Asian Championships, while Ajendra seeks a strong performance in his World Cup debut. Sixteen-year-olds Jonathan Gavin Antony and Harsh Swami will also compete for ranking points.

Men's 10m Air Rifle Preview

The Indian squad will be led by Olympian Arjun Babuta, who began the season with a gold medal at the Asian Championships. He will be joined by former Junior World Champion Parth Rakesh Mane and Shahu Tushar Mane, while Rudrankksh Patil and Himanshu Dhillon will compete for ranking points.

They will face a field filled with top rifle shooting talent, including perennial champion Sheng Lihao from China and World Champion Maximilian Dallinger from Germany. Other prominent names include Ma Sihan from China, Istavan Peni Marton from Hungary, finals world record holder Danilo Dennis Sollazzo from Italy, and veterans like Petar Gorsa from Croatia and Serhii Kulish from Ukraine.

Opening Day Schedule

The qualification round for the 10m Air Pistol will commence at 12:30 IST (9 AM local time), with finals set for 17:30 IST (2 PM local time). The Air Rifle qualification will start at 17:00 IST (1:30 PM local time), followed by the finals at 22:00 IST (6:30 PM local time).

Additionally, the women's 25m Pistol precision stage and the women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions elimination rounds are also scheduled for Tuesday.