Last Updated on 26/07/2024 by Ankita Jain
Indian Shooting players in Paris olympics 2024: India has won a total of 4 Olympic medals in shooting so far. The account remained empty in the last two Olympics, which has increased the additional pressure of expectations on the record 21-member Indian contingent. But this time the team full of shooters making their Olympic debut will be free from the burden of past performances and will aim to succeed in the test of shooting competition to be held in Chateauroux, France on Friday.
The National Shooting Federation of India (NRAI) has given preference to the current form for selecting the team and hopes that this time they will win medals here. That is why the quota winners were also fielded in the trials. In which the less experienced Sandeep Singh defeated 2022 world champion Rudraksh Patil, who had secured a quota for India in the 10 meter air rifle.
Patil wrote a letter to NRAI requesting to continue with the trials, but the federation stood by its decision. Except Manu Bhaker, Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar, Anjum Moudgil and Elavenil Valarivan, all other shooters will experience the Olympic stage for the first time.
India will participate in 15 shooting events. 22-year-old Manu, who has won many medals in world events, could not recover from a problem in the pistol in the 10 meter air pistol qualification at the Tokyo Olympics. But this time she would like to perform better, she will participate in three events which include 10 meter air pistol, 25 meter pistol and 10 meter pistol mixed team.
India will mainly face challenges from China, which is fielding 21 shooters in various events. All eyes will also be on another female shooter, Sift Kaur Samra, who won the gold medal in the 50m rifle 3 position event at the Asian Games.
One of the experienced shooters, Moudgil is making a comeback and will compete with Sifat in the women’s 50m rifle 3 position. 20-year-old Rhythm Sangwan will participate in two events, 10m air pistol and 10m air pistol mixed team.
Sangwan said, ‘Preparations are going well. The range is good. I was a little upset about staying away from the sports village in Paris. It is not as expected. I have come here to compete and win. Olympics is the biggest stage here.’ Among the male shooters, only Tomar has been a part of the Olympics before.