Rudrankksh Patil, a prominent figure in men's 10m air rifle shooting, is set to return to Cairo for the ISSF World Championships Rifle/Pistol. This event, starting on Saturday, marks three years since
he became a world champion.
India has assembled a formidable team for this prestigious competition, including renowned athletes like Manu Bhaker, Suruchi Inder Singh, Anjum Moudgil, and Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar.
Rudrankksh's remarkable performance at the 2022 World Championships in Cairo made him only the second Indian to win the 10m air rifle gold after Abhinav Bindra's victory in 2006. Despite missing out on the Paris Olympics last year, Rudrankksh aims to reestablish his dominance at this familiar venue. His previous successes include winning the President's Cup gold in 2022 and securing top positions in both individual and mixed team events at the 2023 ISSF World Cup.
Indian Shooting Team's Strong Contenders
Alongside Rudrankksh, Olympian Arjun Babuta is another strong contender in the men's 10m air rifle category. Babuta narrowly missed a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics by a fraction of a point. In the men's 50m rifle 3-positions event, Aishwary Pratap and Swapnil Kusale are expected to perform well. The women's 50m rifle 3-positions event also presents opportunities for Sift Kaur Samra, Ashi Chouksey, and Anjum Moudgil to shine.
Sift Kaur Samra recently won gold at the ISSF World Cup in Buenos Aires, marking India's first victory in 2025. She hopes to maintain her form following a challenging experience at the Paris Olympics. Anjum Moudgil, who won silver at the world championships in 2018, seeks a resurgence in Cairo after flying under the radar recently.
Promising Performances in Air Pistol Events
The Indian team also boasts a strong lineup in the women's air pistol category with Manu Bhaker, Suruchi Inder Singh, and Esha Singh forming a formidable trio. Suruchi achieved a significant milestone by defeating Manu Bhaker to win gold at the World Cup in Lima earlier this year. Her rise to No.1 in the world rankings underscores her status as a rising star on the international stage.
Suruchi's success includes three individual World Cup gold medals and a top-podium finish in mixed team events this year. Her achievements make her one of India's most successful pistol shooters currently. The World Championships will commence on Saturday following pre-event training on Friday.
Comprehensive Indian Team Roster
The Indian team comprises talented shooters across various categories. In men's air rifle, Arjun Babuta, Rudrankksh Patil, and Vishal Singh will compete. The men's 50m rifle 3-positions event features Niraj Kumar, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, and Swapnil Kusale. In air pistol events, Shravan Kumar, Samrat Rana, and Varun Tomar will represent India.
The women's team includes Elavenil Valarivan, Shreya Agrawal, and Meghana Sajjanar in air rifle events. Sift Kaur Samra, Ashi Chouksey, and Anjum Moudgil will compete in the women's 50m rifle 3-positions event. The women's air pistol category features Suruchi Singh, Esha Singh, and Manu Bhaker.
The mixed team events include Arjun Babuta paired with Elavenil Valarivan and Rudrankksh Patil teamed with Shreya Agrawal for air rifle competitions. In air pistol mixed teams, Shravan Kumar partners with Suruchi Singh while Samrat Rana teams up with Esha Singh.
With inputs from PTI
