World Cup in Egypt offers final Tokyo 2020 qualification chance for India's shotgun squad
In the previous qualifying event in 2019, the Indian trap shooters had failed to secure a berth for the Tokyo Games
The Indian trap shooters will have a final go at securing a place for the Tokyo Olympics when they participate in the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Shotgun World Cup in Cairo, Egypt. The event will be held from February 22 to March 5.
In 2019, the shooters failed to punch their ticket to Tokyo as their best was not good enough to achieve the qualification benchmark. Overall, India have so far won 15 quota places, with 13 in rifle and pistol and two in skeet.
“It’s a very tricky situation. Now the shooters will have to stay on target for podium finish to earn valuable world ranking points. The higher they rank, the better the chances for individual quota,” stated the chief shotgun coach Mansher Singh to IANS.
“What is more demanding is the fact that the Egypt World Cup is the only event that offers ranking points for shotgun ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. Shooters have to stay calm to have good results,” said the 1994 Commonwealth Games gold medallist in trap.
The New Delhi World Cup, to be held from March 18, will have ranking points only for rifle and pistol.
Individual quotas will be allotted to shooters only if India hasn't got a quota during the qualifying cycle. It is for the athlete and not for the country. The apex body of shooting will announce on May 31, the list of eligible candidates for individual quota.
The national camp at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting range will commence on February 15.
The men’s trap team comprises Jakarta Asian Games silver medallist Lakshay Sheoran, Kynan Chenai, and Prithviraj Tondaiman. Meanwhile, Shreyasi Singh, the 2018 Commonwealth Games champion, Ria Rajeshwari Kumari, and Manisha Keer have been selected in the women’s team.
Apart from two skeet shooters Mairaj Khan and Angad Bajwa, who have already qualified, Gurjot Singh has also been included. Ganemat Sekhon, Parinaz Dhaliwal and Kartiki Singh are in the women’s skeet team.
The skeet shooters will head to Cairo on February 20, while the trap squad will leave on February 25.