Forgetting the disappointing performance in the Tokyo Olympics, Indian shooters are now gearing up for the Paris Olympics.
The National Shooting Association has prepared thoroughly for the Paris Olympics. The shooters did not fare well in the Tokyo Olympics. Apart from this, there were many controversies regarding the individual coaches of the shooting team before the Tokyo Olympics. It affected the performance of the team. Taking a lesson from this, the NRAI has approved the sending of shooters with their coaches to Paris to avoid controversies during the Olympics.
Manu Bhakar, Anish, Vijayveer Siddha, Rhythm Sangwan, and Rajeshwari Kumari, who are participating in three competitions, have taken the help of personal trainers in Paris. NRAI and SAI-approved five Personal Trainers will not stay in the shooter’s sports village. They will be accommodated in a nearby hotel. Manu Bhakar has preferred experienced Jaspal Rana as her coach for the Olympics. Anish has prepared for the Olympics with the help of 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medalist Harpreet Singh. Vijayveer Siddh is working under gold medalist Gurpreet Singh, Rhythm Sangwan is being coached by Vineet Kumar, and Rajeshwari Kumari has been training under David Kostelecky to win Olympic medals. Everyone proposed to hire their personal trainers through TOPS. This proposal was accepted by the ‘Mission Olympic Cell’.
For the first time, a record 21 Indian shooters will participate in the Olympics. These shooters will challenge for 27 medals in Paris. Only China will have 22 shooters more than India. A youth shooting team will participate in the Summer games. Manu, Aishwarya, Elavenil, and Anjum have Olympic experience. These shooters will also be expected to win medals for the country this time.
Only 4 medals for Indian shooters in Olympics
India has so far won only four medals in shooting at the Olympics and will be looking to improve its record in Paris. Rajvardhan Singh Rathore won India’s first medal in this tournament. Rathore won a bronze medal in the men’s double trap event at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Abhinav Bindra then created history by winning the gold medal in the men’s 10m rifle event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. At the 2012 London Olympics, Vijay Kumar won silver in men’s 25m rapid fire pistol and Gagan Narang won bronze in 10m air rifle in 2012 itself.
In Paris, Indian shooters will participate in women’s and men’s categories in 10m air rifle, 50m rifle 3 positions, 10m air rifle mixed group, 10m air pistol, and 25m rapid fire pistol.
Indian Shooting Team for the Paris Olympics
Maheshwari Chauhan, Riza Dhillon, Rajeshwari Kumari, Anant Jeet Singh Naruka, Shreyashi Singh, Prithviraj Tondaiman, Manu Bhakar, Anish, Arjun Singh Chima, Ridham Sangwan, Vijaykumar Sidhu, Sarabjot Singh, Isha Singh, Arjun Babuta, Swapnil Kusale, Anjum Mudgil, Ramita, Sift Kaur Singh, Sandeep Singh, Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar, Elavenil Valarivan.
