ISSF World Cup Final: Manu Bhaker rested, Rhythm Sangwan to compete in two events

Rhythm Sangwan leads Indian shooters in ISSF World Cup Final after Manu Bhaker opts for rest.

Rhythm Sangwan will be the only Indian shooter to compete in two events in the season-ending ISSF World Cup Final in New Delhi after double Olympic-medallist Manu Bhaker opted for a three-month rest following her exploits in the Paris Games.

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) on Thursday (September 12, 2024) announced a 23-member Indian squad for the tournament that will be held across rifle, pistol and shotgun categories from October 13 to 18 at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range.

The squad features nine members from the Paris Olympics team which returned with three bronze medals.

A total of 11 Indian Olympians will gun for the title of the best shooter of the year along with the world's best in 12 individual Olympic events.

The 22-year-old Bhaker scripted history for India in Paris as she won a bronze each in the women's 10m air pistol and 10m air pistol mixed team event (paired with Sarabjot Singh in the latter), and the Indian shooters participating in the prestigious tournament in the national capital will look to carry on the momentum at the familiar range.

"We have a strong squad of proven performers for the ISSF year-ender and look forward to a strong performance. Expectations from the sport have reached sky-high after the Paris performance...," said Sultan Singh, secretary general, NRAI.

Four shooters — Divyansh Singh Panwar (men's 10m air rifle), Sonam Uttam Maskar (women's 10m air rifle), Rhythm (women's 10m air pistol & 25m pistol) and Ganemat Sekhon (women's skeet) have been selected by ISSF directly, while the rest of the members have been picked on the basis of their Olympic trials rankings.