The Indian shooting squad is primed and ready to take on the world’s best at the Paris 2024 Olympics. A record-breaking 21 shooters will represent India, aiming to secure a coveted Olympic medal. This marks a significant increase from the 15 shooters who participated in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
The squad’s announcement by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) well ahead of the July 8, 2024, entry deadline signals a focused and determined approach. The shooters have undergone rigorous training and acclimatization at Volmerange-Les-Mines, followed by a well-deserved two-week break.
India will be among the nations with the highest number of shooters at the Olympics, tying with China with 21 shooters each. They are closely followed by the Republic of Korea, fielding 16 shooters.
While the squad boasts a fresh, new look, familiar faces like pistol and rifle stars Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Anjum Moudgil, and Elavenil Valarivan will be leading the charge. These veterans, having experienced the intense pressure of the Tokyo Olympics, will leverage their past experiences to excel in Paris. The debutants, on the other hand, will have the advantage of entering the competition without the baggage of prior expectations.
The journey to Paris has been a rollercoaster ride for the Indian shooters. After returning empty-handed from Tokyo, they faced a mix of triumphs and setbacks. Numerous rule changes, overhauls in the coaching setup, and various other factors led to the decline of some prominent names like Saurabh Chaudhary, Abhishek Verma, Apurvi Chandela, and Rahi Sarnobat.
This period also witnessed the rise of new talents like Sift Kaur Samra and Sarabjot Singh. Meanwhile, shooters like Manu Bhaker, heavily impacted by media scrutiny, entered a recovery phase. However, she appears to have regained her form just in time for the Paris Olympics.
One significant factor that could work in India’s favor is the absence of Russian shooters from the competition. This is a result of the strict qualification restrictions imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had allowed a maximum of 55 eligible Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs) with Russian passports to participate in Paris, no shooters were among them.
With a strong squad and favorable circumstances, India’s shooting contingent is poised to make their mark at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The nation eagerly awaits the results, hoping to see their shooters reach the podium and bring home the Olympic glory.
