New Delhi, Sep 17: Eight Indian shooters, including double Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker, have secured their places in the season-ending ISSF World Cup Final scheduled to be held in Doha, Qatar, from December 4 to 9.
Bhaker is the only Indian shooter to have made the cut in two events – the women’s 10m air pistol and the women’s 25m pistol – for the ISSF showpiece which determines the season’s best shooter in each of the 12 individual Olympic events.
India will have representation in five of those 12 events.
Teenager Suruchi Singh, who dominated the women’s 10m air pistol with three back-to-back gold medals in Buenos Aires, Lima, and Munich, not only qualified for Doha but also secured the No 1 rank in the world in women’s air pistol.
Olympian Esha Singh also qualified in the women’s 10m air pistol event, with her gold medal winning performance in the fourth and final ISSF World Cup in Ningbo, China.
Others who have qualified include former world champion Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil, who booked his spot in the men’s 10m air rifle with a gold medal in Buenos Aires
Also, Olympian Arjun Babuta ensured his presence in the same event with a silver in Lima.
Reigning Asian Champion and world-record holder Sift Kaur Samra has also qualified for the World Cup Final in the women’s 50m rifle three positions (3P) event aided by her gold in Buenos Aires
Fellow Olympian Vijayveer Sidhu secured his berth in the men’s 25m rapid-fire pistol with a gold winning effort at the same venue.
Rounding off India’s list of qualifiers is Simranpreet Kaur Brar, who gained entry in the women’s 25m pistol with her silver in Lima, given China’s Sun Yujie had already secured her berth through a gold in Buenos Aires.
Indian shooters still have a chance to qualify for the Finals through medal winning performances at the upcoming ISSF World Championship Shotgun in Athens, Greece, and the World Championship Rifle/Pistol in Cairo, Egypt, in October and November, respectively. (PTI)
