NEW DELHI
A talented twelve-member Indian shotgun squad is headed to Almaty, Kazakhstan, for the second stage of the ISSF World Cup. The prestigious ten-day event started, bringing together nearly 300 elite athletes from 42 different countries to compete for Olympic glory.
The Indian team features three prominent Olympians who will be making their first international appearance of the year. Senior professional Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Anantjeet Singh Naruka will lead the challenge in the men’s skeet, while Raiza Dhillon will represent the nation in the women’s skeet. In addition to the main squad, eight other Indian shooters are traveling to gain valuable ranking points.
The competition schedule is packed, starting with skeet qualifiers, followed by the finals. Fans will have to wait until next weekend for the trap events, with the mixed team final closing out the tournament on May 10.
Success will not come easy for the Indian contingent. They face stiff competition from traditional powerhouses like Italy, China, and the Czech Republic. Host nation Kazakhstan also boasts a strong lineup, and Russian athletes will be competing under a neutral flag. After starting their international season in Morocco back in March, the Indian shooters are under pressure to perform. This tournament serves as a vital testing ground to see if India’s best can hit their marks and secure a place on the podium against the world’s finest marksmen.