A 24-member shooting squad will be representing India at the season’s first ISSF World Cup in Cairo, Egypt from February 26 to March 8.
The likes of Olympians Manu Bhaker, Abhishek Verma, Apurvi Chandela, Anjum Moudgil, Elavenil Valarivan, Yashaswini Deswal and Deepak Kumar could not find a place in the squad as they did not meet the selection criteria.
The team was selected on the basis of performance in the national shooting championship. With the national trials scheduled this month cancelled because of Covid-19, the selection committee accounted for the qualification scores along with the final ranking points of the national championship.
The team will be accompanied by six coaches — Deepali Deshpande, Samaresh Jung, Manoj Kumar, DS Chandel, Ronak Pandit and Ved Prakash — and two physios.
“Due to COVID-19 conditions in India, the selection trials, which were scheduled to be held in January 2022, were postponed. There was no time left for conducting the trials before selection of teams for ISSF World Cup, Cairo,” the NRAI said in a statement.
“The selection committee of the NRAI has decided to consider the qualification score along with final ranking points of 64th National Shooting Championship, to arrive at the final ranking for selection of team for ISSF World Cup, Cairo, Egypt.” The top three shooters in each event with ‘Minimum Travel Scores’ (MTS) have been selected for individual and team events. The shooters occupying the fourth rank with same average score have also been selected.
The Women’s 50m Rifle Three Positions is the only event in which India will have two shooters instead of the minimum three allowed, as the third-ranked shooter — Apurvi Chandela — could not satisfy the MTS requirements.
The team will assemble for a camp at New Delhi’s Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range on February 9, before departing for the Egyptian capital on February 25.
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