Granada, Spain — Indian pistol and rifle shooters begin the season-opening ISSF World Cup in Granada on Monday, April 6, 2026, determined to build on a dominant 2025 campaign even after a disappointing start to this season at the Shotgun World Cup in Morocco. The contingent arrives with a mix of experienced internationals and rising stars aiming to restore momentum in the disciplines where India has traditionally excelled.
The squad includes Olympians Rhythm Sangwan, Anjum Moudgil and Mehuli Ghosh, but will miss double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and world champion Samrat Rana. The omission reflects the national federation’s rotation policy: several high-profile pistol shooters, including Bhaker, Suruchi Inder Singh and Samrat, are earmarked for the pistol/rifle World Cup in Munich in May, where India is expected to field a near-full-strength team.
Pistol ace Rhythm Sangwan arrives under pressure to convert near-misses into medals. She finished fourth in the 10m air pistol at the 2024 Cairo World Cup, placed fourth in both 10m and 25m events at the 2024 ISSF World Cup Final in Delhi, and was fifth at the 2025 World Cup in Ningbo. A strong showing in Granada would strengthen her case for Asian Games selection.
Rifle veterans Anjum Moudgil and Mehuli Ghosh also seek a turnaround after an underwhelming run. Mehuli, a 2023 World Championships bronze medallist, narrowly missed podiums at the Asian Championships, finishing fourth in women’s 10m air rifle in Jakarta (2024) and Kazakhstan (2025). Anjum, the 32-year-old 50m rifle 3-positions specialist, will look to build on the momentum from her bronze at the Asian Championships in Delhi earlier this year.
A notable inclusion is 23-year-old Dhanush Srikanth, the deaf and mute 10m air rifle shooter, who returns to the World Cup circuit after nearly three years. Dhanush last competed at the 2022 World Cup in Baku and was a standout at the 2025 Tokyo Deaflympics, where he won gold in men’s 10m air rifle with a world-record score of 252.2, successfully defending his 2022 title and setting a new benchmark for shooters with hearing impairments.
India’s men’s roster lists Gajanan Khandagale, Arshdeep Singh and Dhanush Srikanth in 10m air rifle; Niraj Kumar, Akhil Sheoran and Chain Singh in 50m rifle 3-positions; Mukesh Nelavalli, Ujjawal Malik and Pramod in 10m air pistol; and Vijayveer Sidhu, Neeraj Kumar and Ankur Goel in 25m rapid fire. The women’s team features Sonam Maskar, Shruti and Mehuli Ghosh in 10m air rifle; Ayushi Poddar, Anjum Moudgil and Surabhi Rapole in 50m rifle 3-positions; Palak, Sainyam and Meenu Pathak in 10m air pistol; and Rhythm Sangwan, Simranpreet Kaur Brar and Divya TS in 25m rapid fire.
Mixed-team pairings include Gajanan Khandagale with Sonam Maskar and Arshdeep Singh with Shruti in air rifle, plus Mukesh Nelavalli/Palak and Ujjawal Malik/Sainyam in air pistol. With a blend of proven medal contenders and talent given international exposure, India will aim to open the season in Granada with podium finishes and set the tone for the rest of the year. (PTI)
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/04/06/indian-shooters-set-sights-on-success-at-granada-wc-opener/
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Publish Date: 2026-04-06 05:40:00
