ISSF World Cup Final: Rhythm Sangwan to headline 23-member Indian squad as Manu Bhaker opts to skip

Two-time Olympic bronze medallist Manu Bhaker opted for a three-month rest and will be absent at the ISSF World Cup Final.

Shooter Rhythm Sangwan at the Karni Singh shooting range . (File Photo) | Photo Credit: KRISHNAN VV

The Paris Olympics medallists automatically qualify for the shooting World Cup Finals, but the Indian stars Manu Bhaker, Sarabjot Singh and Swapnil Kusale, who won the bronze, have opted to skip the event to be staged at the Dr. Karni Singh Range, Tughlakabad, from October 13 to 18.

As the host, India does get to field shooters in all the 12 events. Thus, there will be 23 Indian shooters in the fray, with Rhythm Sangwan getting the nod for both air pistol and sports pistol in the women’s section.

Apart from Rhythm, the world record holder in sports pistol who competed in air pistol in the Paris Games, Arjun Babuta, Arjun Singh Cheema, Anish Bhanwala, Vijayveer Sidhu, Anantjeet Singh Narukha, Maheshwari Chauhan, Rajeshwari Kumari and Shreyasi Singh are the other shooters who competed in the Paris Games who are scheduled to shoot in the World Cup Finals.

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) chose shooters on the basis of their Olympic ranking, in events where the Indian shooters did not get direct entry.

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Divyansh Singh Panwar, Sonam Maskar, Rhythm Sangwan and Ganemat Sekhon were the ones selected directly by the ISSF.

“Our world class shooters are confident and excited to perform in front of home fans. A fantastic action awaits, as our shooters take on the world’s best in the season-ending showdown,”, said Sultan Singh, the secretary general of NRAI.

Team India

Men: Divyansh Singh Panwar, Arjun Babuta, Chain Singh, Akhil Sheoran, Arjun Singh Cheema, Varun Tomar, Anish Bhanwala, Vijayveer Sidhu, Vivaan Kapoor, Bhowneesh Mendiratta, Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Mairaj Ahmad Khan.

Women: Sonam Maskar, Tilottama Sen, Ashi Chouksey, Nischal, Rhythm Sangwan, Surbhi Rao, Simrranpreet Kaur Brar, Rajeshwari Kumari, Shreyasi Singh, Ganemat Sekhon, Maheshwari Chauhan.