Manu Bhaker, India's double Olympic medallist, will compete in three events at the ISSF World Cup Munich 2025 — two individual pistol disciplines and the mixed team pistol event — as the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) named a 22-member squad for the prestigious annual competition scheduled from 24 to 31 May in Munich, Germany. Fellow Olympian and world championship medallist Esha Singh is the only other shooter in the squad entered in two individual pistol events.

Squad Composition and Key Names

The Indian contingent blends seasoned international campaigners with promising debutants. Rahi Sarnobat, a two-time Olympian and former Asian Games champion, is the most experienced name in the squad. Alongside her, the team features Samrat Rana (reigning world champion), Rudrankksh Patil (former world champion), Anish Bhanwala (world championship silver medallist), Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar (world championship silver medallist), Elavenil Valarivan (world championship bronze medallist), Suruchi Singh (World Cup Final winner), and Arjun Babuta (reigning Munich mixed team champion).

Notably, this marks the first time in 2025 that India's top-ranked rifle and pistol shooters will compete in a major international competition outside the country, having previously sent a second-tier squad — ranked between 3 and 6 domestically — to the Granada World Cup in April, where India claimed one gold.

Debutants to Watch

Sakshi Padekar, a 22-year-old shooter from Pune, Maharashtra, is among the most notable debutants. She has recorded at least two scores of 634 in qualification over the past year and bettered the women's 10m air rifle finals national record during the trials, finishing ahead of Elavenil Valarivan. She is also a Khelo India University Games champion.

Suraj Sharma, just 18 years old and the youngest Indian in the Munich squad, is a product of the Madhya Pradesh Shooting Academy and the son of a BSF martyr. A former junior world champion in standard pistol and a reigning Asian champion in 25m pistol, he recorded a high score of 558 in the trials this year.

Ajendra Singh Chauhan, a 23-year-old army marksman, earned his place through consistent domestic performances, posting a top score of 588 in the trials. Udhayveer Sidhu, twin brother of Olympian Vijayveer Sidhu, is also 23 and a three-time junior world champion in non-Olympic events. He will make his Olympic-event debut for India in Munich in the men's 25m rapid-fire pistol, having shot a 585 in the trials to edge out his brother for the third Munich spot.

Competition Format and Scale

The ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol Munich is regarded as one of the most competitive annual fixtures in the sport, held at the iconic OlympiaschieBanlage. A total of 696 athletes from 80 countries have entered, including Olympic and world champions testing their form ahead of the Shooting World Championships and other major multi-sport events later in 2025.

Competition opened on Tuesday, 24 May, with the 25m Pistol Women Precision Stage, the qualification round of the 10m Air Pistol Men, and the elimination round of the women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions all commencing simultaneously. The first day's programme concludes with finals in 10m Air Pistol Men and 10m Air Rifle Men.

What to Watch

India's performance in Munich will serve as a key benchmark ahead of the Shooting World Championships later in the year. With the country's strongest domestic performers finally on the international stage together, the squad's results will inform selection thinking and competitive readiness at the highest level.