A 14-member Indian team will compete in the shotgun World Cup in Acapulco, Mexico, from February 28 to March 10.
Former Asian Games champion Ronjan Sodhi, who won the National Games double trap gold recently in Kerala, missed the chance, as he placed behind Ankur Mittal, Mohd. Asab and Sangram Dahiya.
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) had also formed a stringent selection policy for the season, in the run up to the Olympics, as shooters were required to shoot a ‘Minimum Travelling Score’ to be eligible for selection into the national team.
Another National Games gold medallist, Rashmee Rathore was pipped by Arti Singh and Saniya Sheikh, as she did not have a score of 63, when the team was selected last month.
Rajeshwari Kumari who shot 67 in the National Games, as against the MTS of 66 in women’s trap, will compete on her own, as she was not selected for the team.
The World Cups will offer Olympic quota places. After the four World Cups for rifle, pistol and shotgun, the Indian shooters will have the last chance to earn quota for the Rio Games in the Asian Championships to be held in Kuwait City from November 1 to 12.
The World Championship last year offered the first set of Olympic quota places. Jitu Rai won the only quota for the country by securing a silver medal in men’s 50-metre free pistol.
The team:
Men: Trap: Manavjit Singh Sandhu, Zoravar Singh, Sandhu, Prithviraj Tondaiman. Double trap: Ankur Mittal, Mohd. Asab, Sangram Dahiya. Skeet: Mairaj Ahmad Khan, Parampal Singh Guron, Angadvir Singh Bajwa.
Women: Trap: Shagun Chowdhary, Shreyasi Singh. Skeet: Arti Singh, Saniya Sheikh.
