Olympian Manavjit Singh Sandhu returns to Indian Squad for Asian Olympic Qualifiers

Delhi-based Veteran trap shooter and Olympian Manavjit Singh Sandhu has made a comeback to the national squad, confirmed Kalikesh Singh Deo, the acting president of the NRAI (National Rifle Association of India) in an official press release. Sandhu will be competing in the upcoming Asian Olympic Qualifier competition slated to take place next month in Kuwait.

Joining him in the national team is Punjab’s esteemed rifle shooter, Anjum Moudgil, solidifying her position among the ranks. The NRAI has finalised a 32-member squad, comprising 12 shotgun shooters, for the Asian Olympic qualifiers set to be hosted in Indonesia and Kuwait.

Deo expressed satisfaction with the team’s preparation for the impending continental competition, aiming to secure additional quota places.

“Our preparations have been proceeding as anticipated, and we are optimistic about securing more quota places,” said Deo.

The Indonesian leg of the continental competition, scheduled from January 5 to 18, will offer 16 quota places for rifle and pistol shooters participating. Meanwhile, the Asian Olympic qualification event in Kuwait City, slated from January 12 to 22, will make eight quota places available in the shotgun category.

The Indian shooting squad has already clinched 13 Olympic quota places un the 2022-2023 season.

The selection of the national team for the Indonesia and Kuwait competitions was based on the performance of shooters in recent domestic competitions and national selection trials, as confirmed by an NRAI official.

Although the Indian team has secured all eight quota places in rifle shooting, they are eager to gain additional quota places in pistol events. Meanwhile, shotgun shooters, especially in skeet, are determined to earn Olympic quota places during the Kuwait qualifiers.

Olympic quota winners, including Tilottama Sen (10m air rifle), Shriyanka Sadangi (women’s 50m rifle 3 positions), and Bhowneesh Mendiratta (men’s trap), are slated to participate in the upcoming Asian Olympic qualifier for ranking points only. Additionally, alongside individual events, Indian shooters will compete in mixed team events.

Team

Men: Trap: Lakshay, Zoravar Singh Sandhu, Manavjit Singh Sandhu. Skeet: Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Gurjoat Singh Khangura, Munek Battula.

Women: Trap: Manisha Kheer, Bhavua Tripathi, Shreyashi Singh. Skeet: Ganemat Sekhon, Raiza Dhillon, Maheshwari Chauhan.

Men: Air rifle: Rudrankksh Patil, Arjun Babuta, Srikarthik Sabari Raj. 50m rifle 3 positions: Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar, Swapnil Kusale, Akhil Sheoran. Air pistol: Arjun Singh Cheema, Varun Tomar, Ujjawal Malik. 25m rapid fire pistol: Vijayveer Sidhu, Bhavesh Shekhawat. Gurpreet Singh.

Women: Mehuli Ghosh, Elavenil Valarivan, Nacy, Tilottama Sen. 50m rifle 3 positions: Sift Kumar Samra, Ashi Chouksey, Anjum Moudgil, Shriyanka Sadangi. Air pistol: Rhythm Sangwan, Surbhi Rao, Esha Singh. 25m sports pistol: Esha Singh, Simranpreet Kaur Brar, Rhythm Sangwan.