India will field a 31-member contingent, the biggest among the 65 nations, scheduled to compete in the Junior World Championship to beheld in Suhl, Germany, from Friday.
Russia (26), China (24), Germany (22), Czech Republic (21), Poland (19), France (17), Hungary (16) and Ukraine (15) will be some of the other leading countries, in terms of numbers.
There will be 543 shooters in all from 65 countries, having 978 starts in the various pistol and rifle events, in the competition spread over five days.
It will be equipment, pre-event training and opening ceremony on Friday. The opening day’s competition on Saturday will have the 50-metre rifle prone for men and women, apart from 25-metre standard pistol for the men.
Jaspal Rana and Deepali Deshpande have been guiding the junior shooters in pistol and rifle respectively, in the last few years. It will be another opportunity for the Indian youngsters to highlight their potential, and signal a bright future for the sport in the country.
