Paris Olympics 2024: Indian rifle contingent heads to the French capital for the mega event
Ahead of the Indian rifle contingent’s departure for the French capital for the Paris Olympics 2024, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) posted the team’s picture along with the support staff on its Instagram handle, wishing the team good luck.
The eight-member Indian rifle team posed for a picture alongside the support staff at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Delhi before their scheduled departure for Paris on Monday, July 15.
India had obtained the maximum possible eight quotas in the rifle category from the Olympic shooting qualifying events.
Sandeep Singh and Arjun Babuta are part of the men's 10m air rifle event while Elavenil Valarivan and Ramita Jindal will compete in the women's 10m air rifle event.
On the other hand, Sift Kaur Samra and Anju Moudgil will participate in the Women's 50m rifle 3 positions while Aishwary Pratap Singh and Swapnil Kusale will compete in the men's 50m rifle 3 positions event.
Notably, Sift Kaur Samra won an individual gold medal in the 50m rifle 3 positions at the Asian Games last year with a world record in the final.
Additionally, India will also field two mixed teams in the rifle category. Sandeep Singh and Elvaneil Valarivan will pair up the first team alongside Arjun Babuta-Ramita Jindal for the second mixed team.
A 21-member Indian shooting team will take part in the Paris Olympics 2024. The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) announced the strong contingent in June. This will be India’s largest-ever shooting contingent at the Olympics, surpassing the 15 from Tokyo Olympics 2020.
Indian rifle shooters Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Anjum Moudgil and Elavenil Valarivan will be competing at their second Olympic Games. The remaining 5 rifle shooters will be making their Olympic debuts at Paris Olympics.
So far, India won two medals in rifle - Abhinav Bindra secured a gold medal in the 10m air rifle event in the 2008 Olympics while Gagan Narang bagged the bronze medal in the 10m air rifle event at the 2012 Olympics.
Indian rifle contingent for Paris Olympics 2024
Men’s 10m air rifle: Sandeep Singh, Arjun Babuta
Women’s 10m air rifle: Elavenil Valarivan, Ramita Jindal
Women’s 50m rifle 3 positions: Sift Kaur Samra, Anjum Moudgil
Men’s 50m rifle 3 positions: Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Swapnil Kusale
10m air rifle mixed team: Sandeep Singh/Elavenil Valarivan, Arjun Babuta/Ramita Jindal