In a major development for Indian shooting sport, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has announced the squad for the upcoming Asian Championships and ISSF World Cup. The tournaments will act as crucial preparation grounds for shooters eyeing Olympic quotas and enhancing their global rankings before Paris 2024 and other major competitions.
The selection trials were held at Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range in Delhi and the squad has been finalised after a rigorous evaluation of performances, consistency, and recent international results. The teams feature a blend of experienced Olympians and promising youth shooters who have been making rapid progress on the national circuit.
Full Indian Squad For Asian Championships And ISSF World Cup
| Discipline | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 10m Air Rifle | Divyansh Singh Panwar, Hriday Hazarika, Arjun Babuta | Elavenil Valarivan, Ramita Jindal, Mehuli Ghosh |
| 50m Rifle 3 Positions | Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Swapnil Kusale, Niraj Kumar | Anjum Moudgil, Sift Kaur Samra, Ashi Chouksey |
| 10m Air Pistol | Saurabh Chaudhary, Shiva Narwal, Arjun Cheema | Rhythm Sangwan, Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh |
| 25m Pistol | Vijayveer Sidhu, Anish Bhanwala | Manu Bhaker, Rhythm Sangwan |
| 25m Rapid Fire Pistol | Anish Bhanwala, Vijayveer Sidhu | N/A |
| Trap | Prithviraj Tondaiman, Kynan Chenai, Zoravar Singh Sandhu | Shreyasi Singh, Manisha Keer, Rajeshwari Kumari |
| Skeet | Angad Vir Singh Bajwa, Mairaj Ahmad Khan, Gurjoat Khangura | Ganemat Sekhon, Raiza Dhillon, Darshna Rathore |
Key Highlights From Squad Announcement
- Olympic Preparations: The Asian Championships will offer final quota opportunities for Paris Olympics, with India aiming to surpass their Tokyo contingent strength. Shooters like Anjum Moudgil, Manu Bhaker, and Saurabh Chaudhary will be under spotlight to deliver under pressure.
- Youth Inclusion: Young shooters such as Rhythm Sangwan, Ramita Jindal, and Hriday Hazarika have secured spots based on exceptional performances in junior and senior trials. Their inclusion signifies India’s strong bench strength.
- Anish Bhanwala’s Comeback: The Commonwealth Games medallist makes a return to both 25m Rapid Fire and Standard Pistol squads, aiming to regain international medal-winning consistency after a dip in 2023-24.
- Trap and Skeet Powerhouse: With Prithviraj Tondaiman recently winning India’s first-ever World Cup Trap medal, expectations from the shotgun team are high, particularly with Asian countries like China and Kuwait fielding full-strength squads.
NRAI Selection Committee’s Statement
The NRAI selection committee emphasised that the final squad was chosen to balance experience with youth potential. Speaking after the announcement, an official stated:
“We are confident that this squad will not only compete but also bring laurels to the country. Focus is on psychological preparation, adaptability in humid conditions, and consistency in finals.”
India’s Recent Shooting Performances (Last 3 Years)
| Year | Gold Medals | Silver Medals | Bronze Medals | Total Medals | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 23 | 2nd |
| 2023 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 20 | 3rd |
| 2024 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 29 | 1st |
This progressive medal tally indicates India’s rising dominance, especially in junior and youth categories feeding into senior ranks.
Preparation Camps Before The Championships
The team will undergo intensive preparatory camps:
- Location: Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range, Delhi & Pune’s Balewadi Range
- Duration: 4 weeks
- Focus Areas:
- Technical refinement under foreign coaches
- Mental conditioning with sports psychologists
- Simulation of finals pressure using crowd noise and time constraints
- Advanced nutrition and recovery protocols
Upcoming International Shooting Schedule
| Tournament | Dates | Venue | Importance |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISSF World Cup | 22-29 July 2025 | Munich, Germany | Final World Cup before Asian Championships |
| Asian Shooting Championships | 18-28 August 2025 | Doha, Qatar | Last quota event for Paris Olympics |
| ISSF World Cup Finals | November 2025 | Baku, Azerbaijan | Season-ending championship |
Shooters To Watch Out For
- Elavenil Valarivan: World No.1 in 10m Air Rifle, known for her calm composure and technical finesse.
- Sift Kaur Samra: National record holder in 50m Rifle 3 Positions with consistent finals presence in 2024-25 season.
- Rhythm Sangwan: Rising pistol shooter, recently won multiple medals at ISSF Junior World Cup.
- Prithviraj Tondaiman: India’s hope for a historic trap medal at Asian Championships after recent World Cup podium.
Challenges For Indian Shooters
Despite strong squads, key challenges include:
- Extreme Heat & Humidity: Doha in August records peak humidity affecting grip and performance.
- Finals Pressure: Indian shooters have qualified for finals consistently but converting to gold remains an area of improvement.
- Equipment Logistics: Transporting rifles, pistols, and ammunition requires complex customs and security clearance.
NRAI’s Long-Term Vision
NRAI has outlined a Vision 2028 roadmap focusing on:
- Strengthening junior shooting academies
- Collaborations with European training centres
- Advanced data analytics for performance tracking
- Psychological resilience programmes for youth shooters
This roadmap aims to position India among top three global shooting powerhouses by the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Social Media Reactions
After the announcement, fans flooded X (Twitter) and Instagram with congratulatory messages:
- “Indian shooting team looks strong, expecting record medals this time.”
- “Excited to see young talents like Rhythm and Ramita with legends like Manu Bhaker and Elavenil.”
- “Prithviraj’s inclusion in Trap is a gamechanger for Indian shotgun.”
Conclusion
With this squad announcement, India’s shooting contingent looks poised for a high-impact performance in the upcoming Asian Championships and ISSF World Cup. The team’s blend of experience and emerging talent offers a robust platform to secure Olympic quotas and medals, building national expectations towards Paris 2024 and beyond.
Disclaimer
This article is based on officially released squad lists, national selection trials data, and statements from sports bodies. Readers are advised to refer to event websites for real-time updates on results and squad changes.
