12 member Indian shotgun squad set for year’s 2nd ISSF World Cup

A 12-member Indian shotgun squad is all set to take part in the year’s second ISSF World Cup Shotgun stage in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and the team will arrive at the venue on Saturday. A total of 284 athletes representing 42 national Olympic committees are in the fray for the five Olympic events on the 10-day roster. Eight members of the Indian squad are also travelling to compete as RPO (ranking points only) shooters.

Competitions begin with the men’s and women’s skeet qualifiers on Monday (May 4) with the finals following the next day. 

The two trap finals are listed on May 9 with the fifth and last final, the trap mixed team, scheduled next Saturday on May 10. The shotgun squad began their international engagements in Tangier, Morocco, in March where the first World Cup stage was played.

Day one of competitions will feature three Indian Olympians — senior pro Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Anantjeet Singh Naruka in the men’s skeet and Raiza Dhillon in the women’s skeet. All three will be seen in international action for the first time this year.

Besides the all-conquering Italians, Indian shooters will be up against top shooters from strong shotgun nations like Finland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Greece, Peru and Qatar among others.

Hosts Kazakhstan also have a quality squad and there is strong representation from,