Olympic medallists Manu Bhaker and Swapnil Kusale will lead a strong Indian shooting contingent at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, with the country's top shooters set to compete across individual and mixed team events from Wednesday.
India will enter the prestigious competition with a balanced squad featuring a combination of experienced Olympians, established international performers and promising young shooters. The contingent includes several athletes who have already achieved success on the global stage and will be aiming to continue their strong run in international competition.
Bhaker and Kusale will be among the main attractions of the Indian team. Their experience of competing under intense pressure at the highest level is expected to provide the squad with a major boost as India looks to challenge for medals across several disciplines.
The Indian contingent also includes Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Esha Singh, Suruchi, Elavenil Valarivan, Sift Kaur Samra and Sonam Uttam Maskar. In the men's events, Anish Bhanwala will be among the key Indian competitors, while Raiza Dhillon, Ganemat Sekhon and Olympian Anant Jeet Singh Naruka will represent the country in the shotgun events.
The World Cup will also be an important opportunity for India's emerging shooters to gain valuable experience against some of the world's best competitors. With the competition bringing together leading names from the international shooting circuit, the Indian athletes will face a demanding test across individual and mixed team events.
In the rifle competitions, Parth Rakesh Mane, Himanshu Dhillon, Shahu Tushar Mane and Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil will compete in the men's 10m air rifle event. The line-up includes both young talent and experienced shooters with considerable exposure at the international level.
Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Uttam Maskar and Sakshi Sunil Padekar will represent India in the women's 10m air rifle competition. The three shooters will be hoping to produce consistent performances in the qualification rounds and secure a place in the medal stages.
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India's shooting team has emerged as one of the country's strongest medal prospects at major international competitions in recent years. The depth of talent available across rifle, pistol and shotgun events has helped strengthen India's position on the global shooting map.
The Hangzhou World Cup will also serve as a crucial assessment of the shooters' current form. The mixed team events will be particularly significant as they require athletes to adapt quickly and perform with different partners. The events will test their coordination, composure and ability to handle pressure in decisive situations.
With Bhaker, Kusale and several other high-profile shooters in the squad, expectations will be high around India's campaign in China. The team management will hope the experienced competitors can deliver in the crucial stages, while the younger members of the contingent use the opportunity to make a strong impression.
As the ISSF World Cup gets underway on Wednesday, India will aim to put together a strong campaign and return from Hangzhou with a healthy medal haul. The presence of Olympic medallists and a talented mix of established and emerging shooters has raised hopes of a competitive showing across events.
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