Indian Shooters Gear Up for ISSF World Cup in Munich
Indian Team Set for ISSF World Cup
A contingent of 22 Indian shooters is all set to participate in the ISSF World Cup for Rifle and Pistol, taking place in Munich, Germany, from May 24 to May 31. The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has confirmed that double Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker and fellow Olympian Esha Singh will compete in two individual pistol events, with Bhaker also joining the mixed team pistol event.
Competition Overview
The Indian squad features a blend of seasoned athletes and emerging talents, but they will face tough competition from elite shooters worldwide, who gather annually in Munich. The event kicks off at the renowned Olympiaschiessanlage, starting with the Women's 25m Pistol Precision Stage. Concurrently, the qualification rounds for the Men's 10m Air Pistol and the Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions will begin, followed by the Men's 10m Air Rifle qualification. The first day will conclude with finals for both Men's 10m Air Pistol and Men's 10m Air Rifle.
Global Participation
This year's Munich World Cup has attracted a remarkable 696 athletes from 80 nations, including numerous Olympic and World Champions, all eager to assess their skills and equipment ahead of major multi-sport events and the Shooting World Championships later this year.
India's Elite Shooters Compete
This marks the second Rifle/Pistol World Cup of the year, following India's gold medal win at the Granada World Cup in April. The Munich event will feature top-ranked Indian shooters competing internationally for the first time this year. Rahi Sarnobat, a two-time Olympian and former Asian Games champion, leads the Indian contingent. Other notable participants include reigning world champion Samrat Rana, former world champion Rudrankksh Patil, and several other medalists from previous championships.
Introducing New Talent
Among the newcomers, 22-year-old Sakshi Padekar from Pune has shown exceptional form, achieving impressive scores in recent qualifications, including a national record in women's 10m air rifle finals. Suraj Sharma, the youngest at 18, is a promising talent from the M.P Shooting Academy and the son of a BSF martyr, known for his achievements in junior competitions. Ajendra Singh Chauhan, a 23-year-old army shooter, and Udhayveer Sidhu, also 23 and a three-time junior world champion, will also make their Olympic event debuts in Munich.