Strong Indian contingent for Asian championship

India will be the single largest contingent from among the 32 countries that are scheduled to field 835 shooters, including those competing in the MQS section and non-Olympic events.

Published : Oct 26, 2015 22:28 IST

India has won eight Olympic quota places so far.

A strong Indian contingent with 113 shooters will compete in the 13th Asian shooting championship in Kuwait from November 3 to 11.

While the main line shooters will attempt to win Olympic quota places in the rifle, pistol and shotgun events, the shooters in the junior and youth section will attempt to hone their skills in the competitive atmosphere.

India has won eight Olympic quota places so far, through Jitu Rai, Apurvi Chandela, Gagan Narang, Abhinav Bindra, Gurpreet Singh, Prakash Nanjappa, Chain Singh and Mairaj Ahmad Khan.

India will be the single largest contingent from among the 32 countries that are scheduled to field 835 shooters, including those competing in the MQS section and non-Olympic events.

Even host Kuwait will be fielding only 47 shooters, while Korea will be the second largest with 79 shooters and world power China will have 44 entries as it has already won the maximum Olympic quota places in many events, and does not believe in exposing its junior and youth shooters in the age-group competitions.

Iran (44), Thailand (43), Qatar (42), Kazakhstan (36), Malaysia (35), Japan (31), Oman (30), Mongolia (29), Singapore (28), UAE (26), Chinese Taipei (25), Bahrain (23) will be the other major countries, fielding at least 20 shooters in the prestigious competition that is conducted in a four-year cycle.

The Indian contingent has quite thoughtfully reached Kuwait in advance to train and acclimatise to the conditions, thanks to the strong support by the Union Sports Ministry, which has been providing considerable international exposure at all age groups in shooting.

India will have 15 shooters in the youth section, and two of them will compete in the junior events as well. Otherwise, the seniors and juniors are equally matched, hoping for a clutch of medals.