NRAI names a strong squad for Munich Shooting World Cup
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has judiciously mixed its selection, allowing some of the high performers to continue while bringing a few others fresh, while naming the squad for the Shooting World Cup to be staged in Munich, Germany, from June 10 to 14.
Air pistol ace Suruchi Singh, who won the individual gold medals in the last two World Cups (Buenos Aires and Lima) retains her place, along with double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker. Asian Games gold medallist Palak Gulia returns to the squad as the third member.
Sift Kaur Samra, Vijayveer Sidhu, Arya Borse, Simranpreet Kaur Brar, Arjun Babuta and Chain Singh are the other medal winners from the first two World Cups who have retained their place in the 22-member squad.
Kiran Jadhav makes the team in both the air rifle and 50-metre rifle 3-position events. Olympic medallist Swapnil Kusale, too, makes the team.
Rudrankksh Patil and Saurabh Chaudhary who had won gold medals in the recent World Cups, make way for others in rifle and pistol. Olympian Sandeep Singh returns to the squad for air rifle, while Aditya Malra and Nishant Rawat made the cut for air pistol.
Ananya Naidu makes the team in women's air rifle.
India had won 15 medals in the first two World Cups, including six gold. The Indian shooters made 32 finals in all. The 18-year-old Suruchi was the most successful with three gold and a bronze.
The team: Air rifle: Arjun Babuta, Kiran Jadhav, Sandeep Singh; Arya Borse, Elavenil Valarivan, Ananya Naidu.
Rifle 3-position: Chain Singh, Swapnil Kusale, Kiran Jadhav; Sift Kaur Samra, Ashi Chouksey, Shriyanka Sadangi.
Air pistol: Varun Tomar, Aditya Malra, Nishant Rawat; Suruchi Singh, Manu Bhaker, Palak Gulia.
Rapid fire pistol: Vijayveer Sidhu, Anish Bhanwala, Ankur Goel.
Sports pistol: Manu Bhaker, Simranpreet Kaur Brar, Esha Singh.
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