Olympians Raiza, Anantjeet return as 12-member shotgun team for Lonato World Cup announced
Paris Olympians and Skeet shooters Raiza Dhillon and Anantjeet Singh Naruka are back in the Indian team as the selection committee of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) proposed a 12-member shotgun squad for the year's final International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup scheduled between July 4-14 in Lonato Del Garda, Italy.
Among those who competed in the third Nicosia shotgun World Cup earlier this month, where India returned with its first ever ISSF medal (bronze) in the newest Olympic Trap mixed team event, only the seasoned Mairaj Ahmad Khan in men's Skeet and Maheshwari Chauhan in women's Skeet have retained their spots.
Making yet another comeback will be the indomitable veteran Zoravar Singh Sandhu in men's Trap, as will 2018 Jakarta Asiad silver medallist Lakshay Sheoran, alongside him.
READ: Inspired by Abhinav Bindra, Shambhavi beats double Olympic medallist at Junior Worlds and wants to follow in her footsteps
Ganemat Sekhon, India's most accomplished international woman Skeet Shooter with five senior ISSF medals, including two gold, will also be seen in action after missing out in Nicosia.
The Trap mixed team responsibilities will rest on the shoulders of Neeru Dhanda and Lakshay Sheoran and Preeti Rajak and Zoravar respectively.
The other members of the team are Pragati Dubey (women's Trap), Jaswinder Singh (men's Trap) and Bhavtegh Singh Gill (men's Skeet).
The ISSF circuit has so far seen two Rifle/Pistol World Cup stages, three Shotgun World Cups and one combined Junior World Cup where Indian shooters have bagged a total of 27 medals including nine gold. They also topped the Junior World Cup standings and finished second and third in the first two senior combined world cups respectively.
TEAM INDIA SQUAD
Skeet Men: Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Mairaj Ahmed Khan, Bhavtegh Singh Gill
Skeet Women: Raiza Dhillon, Ganemat Sekhon, Maheshwari Chauhan
Trap Men: Lakshay Sheoran, Zoravar Singh Sandhu, Jaswinder Singh
Trap Women: Neeru Dhanda, Pragati Dubey, Preeti Rajak
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
39 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Five challenges Ancelotti faces as Brazil reign kicks off
After a warm welcome to Brazil, Carlo Ancelotti, the Selecao's first foreign coach in more than 50 years, is on a mission to fix a stuttering team and win back fans which starts on Thursday against Ecuador in a World Cup qualifier. The 65-year-old Italian led his first training session on Monday in Guayaquil, Ecuador, ahead of what should be his first match, if his move from Real Madrid passes scrutiny by football's governing body FIFA. AFP identifies five issues Ancelotti faces: "The only goal is to win the 2026 World Cup," said Ancelotti when he took the job. First he has to get there. The South American group is a two-year, 18-match marathon. Brazil's campaign has included a first-ever home World Cup qualifying defeat, 1-0 at the Maracana to old enemy Argentina, part of a run of three straight defeats in 2023 that ended the coaching reign of Fernando Diniz. Their last match was a 4-1 humiliation in Argentina in March that finished off former coach Dorival Junior. Yet the format is forgiving. The top six in the 10-team group qualify directly for the World Cup. Brazil are fourth, six points clear of Venezuela in seventh with four matches to go. Ecuador may be second in the group, but are only two points ahead of Brazil, who then host Paraguay, who are fifth. Qualifying ends in September with a visit to last-place Chile and a home game against struggling Bolivia. Brazil is still churning out dazzling attackers but the production line has stalled on No. 9s. In this century, Romario, Ronaldo and Adriano have all led the attack and banged in the goals. The nearest player to a classic No. 9 in Ancelotti's first squad is a player he coached at Everton, Richarlison, now of Tottenham. Yet Ancelotti has won without a central striker before. His 2024 Champions League winning side was led by two Brazilians: Vinicius Jr, who is in Ancelotti's squad, and Rodrygo, who he did not select. Ancelotti also has Raphinha of Barcelona, who was joint top scorer in this season's Champions League. A bigger problem might be supplying the attackers, veteran Brazilian football journalist Juca Kfouri told AFP. With Brazil's youth academies focusing on defensive midfielders and quick wingers rather than classic creators, the Selecao faces a shortage of ideas in midfield. In Brazil's last two outings Dorival Junior tried Bruno Guimaraes, Gerson, Andre and Joelinton in the role. None convinced. At Madrid, Ancelotti "had Toni Kroos as a supply line for Vini. Brazil does not have a Toni Kroos," said sports writer Tim Vickery on his 'Brazilian Shirt Name' podcast. Ancelotti has recalled Kroos's former Real Madrid midfield partner Casemiro, although the 33-year-old now with Manchester United is primarily a defensive player to add, the coach said, "charisma, personality and talent." The supply of swashbuckling fullbacks, such as Carlos Alberto, Cafu and Roberto Carlos another hallmark of great Brazil teams has also dried up. Ancelotti has recalled Carlos Augusto, part of the Inter Milan team crushed in the Champions League final, and picked Flamengo duo Wesley Franca and Alex Sandro after seeing them play last week in a 1-0 victory over Venezuelan team Deportivo Tachira in the Copa Libertadores. Ancelotti needs to rebuild the bond between the team and the public. Part of the problem is that after Brazil won five World Cups playing mostly the "jogo bonito" , fans have little patience with mediocrity. But many supporters have been turned off by the way the famous yellow jersey has been hijacked as a symbol by supporters of far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro. "This issue of the extreme right appropriating the jersey has distanced part of the country," said Kfouri, adding Ancelotti called on the fans when he took the job saying, "I hope to have the support and help of the country." jss/app/raa/pb/iwd/gj TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
India.com
40 minutes ago
- India.com
Virat was not keen to 'give up' Test cricket, bond with head coach Gautam Gambhir under scanner
Virat Kohli with Gautam Gambhir. New Delhi: Virat Kohli's recent Test cricket retirement continues to be a significant topic of discussion in Indian cricket. His decision, announced shortly before the England series, surprised many, given his lack of prior indication and India's success under his leadership in Test matches. The timing and the overall impact of his departure remain subjects of considerable debate. Amid the usual discussions about fresh leadership, generational shifts, and red-ball readiness, a curious subplot has begun to emerge — one that's stirring more questions than answers. Why would someone walk away from Test cricket just days after seemingly sharpening their red-ball game? That's exactly what Australia women's captain Alyssa Healy pondered on the Willow Talk podcast. She had spent much of April and May in India, accompanying her husband Mitchell Starc during his stint with the Delhi Capitals. Adam Peacock, an Australian broadcaster, hinted at something on his show, Willow Talk, suggesting insightful speculation rather than unsubstantiated rumor. 'Given he doesn't exactly need to play the final, pack his bags, and get out to England. I was speaking to someone in the last week with a knowledge of the situation, and I think there's more to come in the whole story of the Gambhir-Kohli relationship,' Adam Peacock said. Following India's 2024 T20 World Cup triumph, Gautam Gambhir took the role of head coach. He subsequently led the team to victory in the Champions Trophy in March. Despite a previously documented strained relationship, Gambhir and Virat Kohli have appeared to reconcile, even participating in a joint interview after Gambhir's appointment. They have also been observed frequently interacting amicably within the team environment. While publicly silent, some within the BCCI haven't ruled out Virat Kohli's potential return to the Indian cricket team. Arun Dhumal's recent public comments, though presented as a personal hope, hinted at the possibility of a future recall. Given Kohli's history of making unexpected decisions regarding his career, a return to the team remains a possibility. While Virat Kohli's future remains uncertain, his international Test career is currently inactive. He's not been selected for the upcoming England series. His next anticipated appearance will be in August's ODI series against Bangladesh.
Mint
41 minutes ago
- Mint
IPL 2025: Anand Mahindra pays tribute to ‘loyal' Virat Kohli as he lifts cup for RCB for 1st time in 18 years
IPL 2025: Anand Mahindra, chairman of Mahindra Group, paid an emotional tribute to the star cricketer, 'loyal' Virat Kohli, as he lifted the IPL cup for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the first time in 18 years. 'Loyalty like this doesn't just win titles — it carves legacies,' Mahindra said in an X post. Highlighting Virat Kohli's unwavering loyalty to the team over the years, despite not winning the championship, Mahindra said, 'For 18 years, Virat Kohli gave his heart to a team that had never touched the trophy.' 'Waiting for the light of that dawn. And now, at last, the stars have answered his faith.' He also quoted Rabindranath Tagore and said, 'Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.' Virat Kohli joined RCB as a 19-year-old soon after winning the 2008 U-19 World Cup. He played in two IPL finals as a player, in 2009 and 2011, and led RCB as a captain to the final of the 2016 season as a 27-year-old. His 973 runs in that gargantuan season remain an IPL record. Kohli relinquished captaincy at the end of the 2021 season and still continued to give his best as a batter. He was the top scorer in the 2025 final for RCB, scoring 43 off 35 balls. 'I gave my youth, my prime, and my experience,' said a teary-eyed Virat Kohli after winning the match. The star cricketer added: 'I have given everything to the team for the last 18 years. I have been loyal to this team, no matter what. I stood with them (fans and team). They stood behind me. I always dreamt of winning this with them.' Virat also compared his IPL win with the trophies he won with the Indian team, and said, 'This is far more special than winning it with anyone else.'
