Punjab Newsline,Sports:
Group A National Selection Trials begin at Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range from January 19 to 25
The Indian domestic shooting season resumes on Monday as over 150 top rifle and pistol shooters gather at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range (DKSSR) in Delhi for the Group A National Selection Trials 1 and 2, scheduled from January 19 to 25. The trials cover eight Olympic events along with the exclusive 50m rifle prone event for men and women.
Day one will feature the two T1 prone finals and the first day of men’s 25m rapid-fire pistol (RFP) T1 qualification. The men’s RFP has the fewest participants, with about a dozen top shooters, including Olympian and world championship silver medalist Anish Bhanwala.
Top shooters expected at the DKSSR include reigning world champion Samrat Rana in men’s 10m air pistol, double Olympic bronze medalist Manu Bhaker, and Paris Olympic bronze winners Swapnil Kusale in men’s 50m rifle 3 positions (3P) and Sarabjot Singh in men’s air pistol. Esha Singh, former mixed team world champion and last year’s individual world championship bronze medalist, will compete in both women’s pistol events alongside Manu. Former world champion Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil will participate in both men’s rifle events.
Other elite participants include world championship medalists Anjum Moudgil, Mehuli Ghosh, and Akhil Sheoran in women’s Air Rifle and 3P events. Suruchi Phogat, world number two and World Cup Finals winner, will be a highlight in the women’s air pistol event.
The trials will also feature Group A rookies who recently advanced to the elite level, including Jonathan Gavin Antony (men’s pistol), Adriyan Karmakar and Mahit Sandhu (men’s and women’s 3P), and Suraj Sharma (men’s RFP). Experienced shooters like Olympian and former Asian Games champion Rahi Sarnobat, ONGC’s Shweta Singh, Indian Navy’s Omkar Singh, and Gujarat’s Lajja Gauswami will also compete.
With the 68th National Shooting Championship recently concluded, top shooters will aim to make strong comebacks ahead of the international season beginning in April. Scores from these trials are crucial for selection in India’s first National squad of 2026, as athletes prepare for key events, including the Asian Games and the 2028 Olympic qualifying World Championships.