Bilkul Sateek News
New Delhi, 30 April – Paris Olympic bronze medalist Swapnil Kusale and reigning Asian Games gold medalist Palak once again return to the Indian shooting squad. The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has announced a 23-member team for the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Rifle/Pistol World Cup, to be held in Munich, Germany, in the first week of June.
Double Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker will be the only athlete to compete in two individual events, having been selected for both the women’s 10 m and 25 m pistol competitions.
Following Swapnil’s success in Paris, Sandeep Singh will also make his comeback in the men’s air rifle discipline on the Indian team.
The rifle and pistol contingent recently returned from the two-stage ISSF World Cup in Argentina and Peru, where they amassed a total of 15 medals, including six golds. India finished second overall in Argentina and third in Peru.
Thirteen members of that squad have been retained for Munich, with no changes in the women’s 50 m rifle three positions (3P) and 25 m pistol events.
Three shooters will make their senior Indian team debuts in Munich: Maharashtra national champion Ananya Naidu, rewarded for her stellar domestic form; Haryana’s Aditya Malra, fresh off a Kumar Surendra Singh Memorial mixed team title; and Army marksman Nishant Rawat.
Two shooters, Rudrankksh Patil and Aishwarya Tomar, have voluntarily withdrawn their names from the team.
