Intro
A massive 71-member Indian contingent has landed in Cairo, aiming for dominance at the season’s first Junior World Cup.
NEW DELHI
A hopeful squad of 58 Indian shooters and coaches departed for Cairo, ready to compete in the season’s first ISSF Junior World Cup. Running from April 19 to 27, this prestigious tournament marks the beginning of the international junior circuit for rifle, pistol, and shotgun disciplines.
India is sending a massive total of 71 athletes to Egypt, making it the largest contingent among the 25 competing nations. The team will compete across 18 medal events, including 15 Olympic categories. Excitement is particularly high for the men’s 25m pistol event, which is expected to join the Olympic lineup by 2032. This trip serves as a crucial warm-up for the Junior World Championships taking place in Germany this June.
The move to Cairo follows a mixed performance at the recent World Cup in Spain. While India reached seven different finals, the duo of Mukesh Nelavalli and Palak secured the team’s only gold medal in the air pistol mixed team event. Other rising stars, like Sonam Uttam Maskar, showed great grit by finishing fifth in a world-class field dominated by top-ranked Chinese shooters. With 284 athletes gathered in the Egyptian capital, the competition will be fierce. However, the large Indian squad aims to dominate the leaderboard and prove their depth in the sport. Beyond the medals, these young athletes are focused on gaining vital international experience, building the mental toughness and discipline required to represent India on the world’s biggest sporting stages.
