Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
India’s shooting contingent is gearing up for one of the sport’s most prestigious global events, as the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) unveiled a 22-member squad for the upcoming ISSF World Cup Munich in Germany. All eyes will be on double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker, who is set to compete in three events, including two individual pistol categories and the mixed team event.
The Munich World Cup, scheduled from May 24 to 31 at the iconic Olympiaschießanlage, is widely regarded as the blue-riband annual event in international shooting. A massive field of 696 athletes from 80 countries, including Olympic and world champions, will battle it out, making it a true test of precision, preparation, and mental strength.
Alongside Manu, Esha Singh will also compete in two individual pistol events, underlining India’s strength in the discipline. The squad boasts a strong mix of seasoned campaigners and exciting young talent. Veteran shooter Rahi Sarnobat leads the experienced core, joined by proven names like Rudrankksh Patil, Anish Bhanwala, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Elavenil Valarivan and Arjun Babuta.
Young guns, however, are expected to add fresh energy to the campaign. Sakshi Padekar, who has consistently delivered high qualification scores, headlines the debutants, while 18-year-old Suraj Sharma—already a junior world champion—brings immense promise. Ajendra Singh Chauhan and Udhayveer Sidhu, another exciting prospect in rapid-fire pistol, also mark their arrival on the big stage.
India heads into the competition after securing a gold medal at the Granada World Cup earlier this year, but Munich will be a tougher test with top-ranked shooters competing abroad for the first time this season.
With a balanced squad and high expectations, Team India will look to make a strong statement against the world’s best and build momentum ahead of major championships later in the year.
