Manu Bhaker Inspires Hope as She Leads Dynamic 35-Member Indian Team in Thrilling ISSF World Cup Opener this April
Ace shooter Manu Bhaker will lead a formidable 35-member Indian team in the upcoming season-opening ISSF World Cups scheduled for April in South America. The lineup includes nearly all the shooters who represented India at the Paris Olympics, underscoring the strong contingent’s capabilities.
The international shooting calendar kicks off with two World Cup events in South America: the first in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from April 1-11, followed by a second combined World Cup in Lima, Peru, from April 13-22. Manu Bhaker, who recently received the Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award for securing two bronze medals in Paris in the 10m women’s air pistol and mixed team event, will compete in two individual categories: women’s air pistol and 25m pistol.
Joining Bhaker are notable Olympians Anish Bhanwala and Vijayveer Sidhu in men’s 25m rapid-fire pistol, among others, in various disciplines including rifle, trap, and skeet shooting.
Prior to the team’s departure, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) will conduct a training camp at the Karni Singh Range starting March 14. NRAI secretary-general Sultan Singh expressed confidence in the team’s potential to surpass their achievements at the Paris Olympics, where they won three bronze medals.
The ISSF calendar also includes World Championship events in October and November, as well as the 16th Asian Championships in Kazakhstan this August. Additionally, three World Cup stages for each discipline and two junior World Cups, including one in New Delhi, are slated for the year.
The NRAI has announced an expanded roster of coaches to prepare the team for the 2028 LA Games, with notable appointments including Jaspal Rana as the 25m pistol high-performance coach and Deepali Deshpande as head coach for rifle disciplines. These strategic selections are poised to bolster India’s position on the global shooting stage.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/sport/story/manu-bhaker-to-lead-35-member-indian-team-in-issf-world-cup-opener-in-april-1174234-2025-02-22?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2025-02-22 15:56:00
