Olympian shooters Anjum Moudgil and Saurabh Chaudhary are back in reckoning for India team spots along with world championship bronze medallist Mehuli Ghosh, following their encouraging performances in the National Selection Trials 3 and 4 for rifle and pistol in Dehradun recently. India’s leading female rifle shooter and two-time Olympian Anjum had missed out on the first half of the international season comprising three World Cups, but following her fine showing in the 50m rifle 3-positions event she is back among the top-three having replaced Paris Olympian Shriyanka Sadangi, as per the National Rifle Association of India’s latest domestic rankings list for Group A (eligible for India selection) shooters.
World record holder Sift Kaur Samra remains the top-ranked 3P woman shooter in the country with an average of 593.38, followed by Ashi Chouksey (592.25) and Anjum (591.68). Shriyanka (589.90), Mehuli (588.58), and Surabhi Bharadwaj (588.08) complete the top six in the highly-competitive field.
Former Asian Games gold medallist Chaudhary is back as India No.1 in men’s 10m air pistol with an average score of 583.93, followed by Aditya Malra (582.75) and Anmol Jain (582.33). Amit Sharma (582), Nishant Rawat (582), and Samrat Rana (581.45) are fourth, fifth and sixth respectively. Among 10m air rifle shooters, 2024 Asian Championship gold medallist Mehuli has regained the domestic No. 1 spot with an average of 633.65, followed by Elavenil Valarivan (633.28) and Ananya Naidu (632.83).
Arya Rajesh Borse (632.25), Ramita (632.05), and Sonam Uttam Maskar (631.60) also feature in the top six.
In women’s 10m air pistol, Suruchi continues to dominate the national circuit with an average score of 588.25. She enjoying a nearly 10-point lead over her number two Palak (578.38). Paris Olympics double bronze medallist Manu Bhaker and Surbhi Rao both average 578 after the trials. Rhythm Sangwan (577.88) and Esha Singh (577.83) follow closely at fifth and sixth spots, respectively.