NRAI announces Indian Shotgun squad for Paris Olympics 2024

Modified Jun 19, 2024 06:19 IST

Anantjeet Singh Naruka. (Credit: Anantjeet Singh Naruka/Instagram)

On June 18, Tuesday, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) announced the Indian Shotgun squad for the upcoming Paris Olympics 2024, scheduled to be held in July and August.

ISSF World Cup 2023 bronze medallist trap shooter in Italy and Doha, Prithviraj Tondaiman made it to the men’s trap while National Games 2023 gold medallist shooter Rajeshwari Kumari made the cut in the women’s trap.

Asian Games 2023 silver medallist Anantjeet Singh Naruka will be part of the Indian men’s skeet while Asian Championships 2024 gold medallist Raiza Dhillon and Olympic qualifier gold medallist shooter Maheshwari Chauhan will compete in the women’s skeet event, completing the five-member squad announced by the NRAI.

Furthermore, Maheshwari and Anantjeet will also compete as the sole Indian pair in the skeet mixed team event.

Notably, the Skeet Mixed Team event is making its Games debut at the Paris Olympics 2024. Interestingly, it is the first Olympic Games opportunity for all five members named in the squad.

After naming the strong squad for the mega event in Paris, NRAI Secretary General Kr. Sultan Singh stated that a second Olympic medal in shotgun looks a strong possibility. Notably, former ace shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore secured the lone medal for India in Shotgun (silver) at the 2004 Athens Olympics in men’s double trap.

“There was intense competition for places and things could have changed in case some shooters had medalled at the recently concluded Lonato World Cup. But we believe that we have a great Shotgun team, which has won the highest ever spots for India at any Games, and certainly a second Olympic medal in the discipline looks a strong possibility,” Sultan Singh stated.

He also revealed that the committee had also approved the name of women’s Trap shooter Shreyasi Singh and that the NRAI had written to the ISSF (International Shooting Sport Federation) for a Paris Olympics quota swap.

In this situation, Shreyasi Singh’s name could only be published post receiving the necessary approvals from the International Federation.