Season's First World Cup in Argentina to Kick Off
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Synopsis
The inaugural ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun of the season is about to begin in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The competition will feature men's pistol and skeet events, with over 400 shooters from 45 countries, including a strong representation from India.
Key Takeaways
- First ISSF World Cup of the shooting season in Buenos Aires.
- Over 400 competitors from 45 nations will participate.
- Indian shooters include Saurabh Chaudhary, Ravinder Singh, and Varun Tomar.
- Women's squad includes Olympians and national record holders.
- High competition expected with Olympic champions in attendance.
New Delhi, April 2 (NationPress) The international shooting season's inaugural ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun is about to kick off in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. The first targets will be set by the men's pistol competitors along with men's and women's skeet shooters at the Tiro Federal Argentino de Buenos Aires shooting range on Thursday.
On the opening day, three Indian shooters, including Saurabh Chaudhary, Ravinder Singh, and Varun Tomar, will compete in the men's 10m air pistol event, marking the start of 15 finals. These athletes are eager to secure a golden beginning for their nations in this prestigious tournament.
The men's and women's skeet events will feature only the first two qualifying rounds, with each round comprising 25 targets played out on Day One.
Over 400 shooters, including numerous current and former Olympic and World champions from 45 nations, will vie for 15 gold medals, aiming to start the year on a triumphant note. This includes 23 athletes competing as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN), as announced by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI).
The ISSF World Cup stages are among the most prestigious competitions in the sport, second only to the Olympics and World Championships.
The NRAI has fielded a 35-member team for the World Cup in Argentina, featuring double Olympic bronze medalist Manu Bhaker who will participate in two individual and one mixed team events. Nine members of the team will be in action on Thursday.
The men's air pistol category will see a robust lineup of 40 competitors, including all three medallists from the Paris Olympics: Xie Yu from China, and Federico Maldini and Paolo Monna from Italy who won silver and bronze respectively.
For the Indian trio led by the dynamic Saurabh Chaudhary, the competition will be fierce, with renowned shooters like Christian Reitz from Germany, Damir Mikec from Serbia, Filipe Almeida Wu from Brazil, and the talented Nikita Chiryukin from Kazakhstan also vying for medals.
Indian coach Samaresh Jung expressed confidence in his team's performance, stating, “They have been training and competing diligently throughout the year, both in our camps and locally. The boys also participated in some fun local matches arranged among South American nations who arrived early. They understand the expectations, and we are optimistic about a strong performance. The level of competition is always high at this stage.” Besides Saurabh, Varun Tomar and Ravinder Singh will also be in contention for medals.
In Skeet, India boasts a young and talented squad that is in peak form, promising an impressive performance.
The women's team includes Olympian Raiza Dhillon, Ganemat Sekhon—the national record holder—and Darshna Rathore, all of whom are individual medalists at this level.
Another Paris Olympian, Anantjeet Singh Naruka, is set to lead the men's challenge alongside rookie senior Bhavtegh Gill, with experienced shooter Gurjoat Khangura supporting the trio.
Coach Amrinder Singh Cheema remarked ahead of the competition, “We’ve had five days of training here and had to deal with jet lag. The conditions are challenging, but consistent for everyone, and we hope to have a strong first day.”
Double Olympic champion Gabriele Rossetti is the favorite in the men's skeet event, while American legend Kimberly Rhode will lead a strong US team in the women’s category. Chile’s reigning Olympic champion, Francisco Crovetto Chadid, is also confirmed to compete in the women's skeet.
The first World Cup stage of the year is expected to attract a host of shooting stars to the Argentine capital. Among them is the renowned Kimberly Rhode, a seven-time Olympic champion from the USA, who will spearhead a formidable American squad, particularly in the shotgun segment.
Other leading shooting nations, including China, Italy, Australia, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany, are well-represented, while numerous skilled Russian shooters are part of the AIN group, potentially altering the dynamics of the competition.
