Get ready for the action to begin at the Paris Olympics, as 21 Indian shooters prepare to take on the world’s best in their quest for Olympic glory. The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has announced a strong squad, ready to compete in Châteauroux. This is the largest contingent of Indian shooters ever to participate in the Olympics, surpassing the previous record of 15 at Tokyo 2020.
India’s squad will be competing against a field of 321 shooters from 81 nations, including the IOC Refugee Team. They have been rigorously training and acclimatizing, culminating in a two-week break before the competition begins. The team is a mix of veterans and newcomers, with familiar faces like pistol star Manu Bhaker and rifle shooters Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Anjum Moudgil, and Elavenil Valarivan leading the charge. While the experienced shooters draw upon their past experiences, the debutants arrive free of the weight of past performances.
Following a disappointing performance in Tokyo, the Indian shooters have faced a tumultuous few years. Rule changes and coaching overhauls have led to the decline of some prominent figures like Saurabh Chaudhary, Abhishek Verma, Apurvi Chandela, and Rahi Sarnobat. However, the team has seen a change of guard, with newcomers like Sift Kaur Samra and Sarabjot Singh stepping up. Manu Bhaker, after facing intense media scrutiny, has also shown signs of a strong comeback.
One significant advantage for India this time is the absence of Russian shooters due to qualification restrictions following their invasion of Ukraine. While the IOC has allowed 15 Russian athletes to compete as Individual Neutral Athletes, none of them are shooters. The stage is set for the Indian shooters to make their mark in Paris. With a mix of experience and fresh talent, they are determined to bring home medals and make India proud.
