Can Indian shooters make Tokyo Olympics an unforgettable bonanza?

Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Angad Singh Bajwa - the dark horses

Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Angad Vir Singh Bajwa - The Dark Horses

Another discipline where India can expect a surprise or two is the skeet category. Unlike the rifle and shotgun categories, skeet has not been India's cup of tea. Yet one man almost broke the myth had it not been for bad luck at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Now, five years later, Mairaj Ahmad Khan, India's first skeet shooter who almost made it to the podium, is back in action. This time, he is not alone. He will be accompanied by rookie shooter Angad Vir Singh Bajwa, who jointly holds the world record for Men's Skeet Finals, with a perfect score of 60 out of 60 shots.

The two are dark horses because they are capable of springing up surprises. Mairaj Ahmad Khan almost made it to the finals in Rio, but tough luck played spoilsport in the shoot-off. As such, it would be interesting to see whether the two can script history, just as Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore did in Athens in 2004. The unconventional soldier opened India's account in shooting, with a silver medal in the Men's Double Trap event.