A 15-member Indian shooting squad, the biggest-ever representing the nation in Olympics, is in focus as the best bet the country has to win medals at the Tokyo Olympics.

While expectations can often prove to be a burden, the squad members have been performing consistently internationally and they may well wipe off the memories of the Rio Olympics, from where India returned empty handed despite a huge hype.

The shooting range had given India medals in three Olympics: Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012, including the country’s first-ever individual Olympic gold medal won by Abhinav Bindra in 2008.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Indian shooters finished top of the table in four ISSF World Cups in 2019 with teen sensations Saurabh Chaudhary and Manu Bhaker leading the way. Such has been their consistency that it is almost certain that the country will win medals, the only question being how many.

Ahead of the Games, the 15-member squad had been training in Zagreb, Croatia, and had taken part in the international circuit to prove themselves.

Manu, 19, will represent India in three events. She will be fielded in both the women’s 25m pistol and her pet 10m air pistol event. She will also partner with Saurabh, another 19-year-old, in the 10m air pistol mixed event where a medal is expected. Saurabh will also compete in the 10m air pistol.

Elavenil Valarivan may just steal the show in 10m air rifle. Ranked No.1 in the world in her category, Elavenil will head into the Tokyo Games as a replacement for Chinki Yadav. She is the only shooter in the Indian contingent who did not earn a quota.

The 20-year-old Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar (50m rifle 3 position), who won a gold in the 2021 ISSF World Cup, is one of India’s brightest prospects.

“I honestly feel that India’s chances of winning a medal this time are more robust than ever before. I really don’t want to single out anyone since I believe it’s often the dark horses who bring in the medals,” shooting coach Joydeep Karmakar told The Telegraph.

“While our shooters have been doing tremendously well over the past two years, what worries me is the complete lack of information about the Chinese team. They are historically very strong and perhaps we are a bit in the dark about the real competition we will face in Tokyo,” said Karmakar, who narrowly missed a medal at London 2012.

Team For Tokyo

Men: Deepak Kumar, Divyansh Singh Panwar (10m air rifle); Sanjeev Rajput, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar (50m rifle 3 positions); Saurabh Chaudhary, Abhishek Verma (10m air pistol); Angad Vir Singh Bajwa, Mairaj Ahmad Khan (skeet)

Women: Apurvi Chandela, Elavenil Valarivan (10m air rifle); Anjum Moudgil, Tejaswini Sawant (50m rifle 3 positions); Manu Bhaker, Yashaswini Singh Deswal (10m air pistol); Manu Bhaker, Rahi Sarnobat (25m pistol)

Mixed team: Divyansh Singh Panwar/Elavenil Valarivan; Deepak Kumar/Anjum Moudgil (10m air pistol); Saurabh Chaudhary/Manu Bhaker; Abhishek Verma / Yashaswini Singh Deswal (10m air rifle)

Best Bet

Saurabh Chaudhary/Manu Bhaker (10m air rifle mixed team)

• Gold: ISSF World Cup (2021, New Delhi)
• Gold: ISSF World Cup (2019, New Delhi)
• Gold: ISSF World Cup (2019, Beijing)
• Gold: ISSF World Cup (2019, Munich)
• Gold: ISSF World Cup (2019, Rio de Janeiro)

DO YOU KNOW

Why do some shooters wear a patch over one eye?

It is difficult to make an accurate shot if your dominant eye and dominant hand are not on the same side. Closing one eye is not the solution as it reduces accuracy. So shooters whose dominant eye and hand are on opposite sides, use an eye patch to enhance accuracy.

Text: Elora Sen

EXPERT EYE: Gagan Narang, Bronze medal winner in 10m air rifle at 2012 London Olympics

Our shooters have been dominating the international circuit in the past couple of years. We have 15 shooters, which include two world No. 1s, five No. 2s and one No. 3. This shows how much work has been done by this team at the world level. Olympics are always tough, but the way our shooters have been performing, I can say we are strong medal contenders in Tokyo.

The constant testings and other Covid-19 protocols may feel like an added burden to some. But shooters are like soldiers. They adapt to the situation.

My advice to the team is very simple. You have worked hard to reach here, just keep believing in yourself and do what you do best.

The intense heat and humidity in Tokyo may trouble the outdoor rifle shooters, as they wear layers of clothes, including the jacket and trousers. Pistol shooters might need to adjust their grips as the hand swells up in hot weather. But these shooters are seasoned campaigners. They should be able to handle it.