New faces in Indian shooting squad

Though nine of the 12 shooters who competed in the Rio Olympics will be seen in action, quite a few newcomers have been added to the squad, which will not have in its rank Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra for the first time in nearly two decades. 

Two big names - also part of the Rio Games - to have missed out are former world number one Manavjit Singh Sandhu and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Ayonika Paul. 

Kynan Chenai, Mairaj Ahmad Khan, Narang, Jitu, Heena, Chain Singh and Gurpreet Singh have been able to retain their place in the national squad that was selected on the basis of the performance in the last National championship in Pune and two selection trials. 

After the Olympic debacle, an overhaul was on the cards in Indian shooting. Narang has been able to book a berth only in the ri fle prone event and not in air rifle or rifle 3-position events. 14-yearold Shapath Bharadwaj has made the men’s double trap team along with Sangram Dahiya and Ankur Mittal. Former world No.1 Heena Sidhu will compete only in 10m air pistol alongside newcomers Harveen Ahluwalia and Priyanka Susvikar, having opted out of sport pistol. 

In men’s 10m air rifle, India will be represented by the unheralded duo of Ravi Kumar and Deepak Kumar alongside the fairly experienced Satyendra Singh.  Sangram Dahiya, Ankur Mittal and Shapath Bharadwaj form the double trap men’s team, while Zoravar Singh, Kynan Chenai and Birendeep Singh Sodhi making a comeback after four years, will represent the host nation in  double trap.