Will the Women's 10m Air Rifle and Men's 10m Air Pistol Finals Shine in Munich?

Synopsis
Excitement builds as the women's 10m air rifle and men's 10m air pistol finals kick off the ISSF World Cup in Munich. With debutants looking to make their mark and seasoned competitors in the fray, the stage is set for an unforgettable showdown. Will India's shooters rise to the occasion?
Key Takeaways
- India's Shooting Team: A 22-member squad is competing at the ISSF World Cup.
- Debutants: Three shooters are making their World Cup debuts.
- Finals Schedule: Women's final at 5:00 PM IST, men's at 9:00 PM IST.
- Coaching Insights: Coaches express confidence in the team's preparation.
- Familiar Venue: Munich's shooting range is well-known to many shooters.
Munich, June 9 (NationPress) The inaugural finals for the women's 10m air rifle (ARW) and men's 10m air pistol (APM) are poised to take place on the first day of competition during the third International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup (Rifle/Pistol) at Munich's Olympic Shooting range this Tuesday. Notably, three Indian shooters are eager to make their World Cup debuts in these events.
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has assembled a 22-member squad for the Munich World Cup, featuring double-Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and Kiran Ankush Jadhav participating in two separate individual contests.
Elimination rounds and qualifications for four of the ten events on the Munich schedule will commence at 12:30 PM Indian Standard Time (IST), with the finals set for 5:00 PM IST (ARW) and 9:00 PM IST (APM), respectively.
Among the medal events on the opening day, India will showcase three debutants, including national champion Ananya Naidu in the women's category and Aditya Malra and Nishant Rawat in the men's category, all making their first appearances at this prestigious level.
Arya Borse, the second Indian air rifle shooter, is also embarking on her senior career but has displayed exceptional form, reaching an individual final and clinching two mixed team silver medals at the earlier World Cup stages in Buenos Aires and Lima.
This leaves seasoned competitors like two-time Olympian and two-time individual World Cup gold medallist Elavenil Valarivan and Asian championships winner with four World Cup medals Varun Tomar to lead the contingent.
National rifle coach Deepali Deshpande remarked, "The Munich range is familiar to most shooters, as they have participated in several events across the European circuit. They have settled in well and are performing admirably in training, so we anticipate a strong showing."
Meanwhile, national pistol coach Samaresh Jung expressed confidence, stating, "The scores are promising, and the team is in excellent shape. Munich consistently draws a top-tier field, but if we deliver our best, we should be competitive."