Who is Nihal Singh? All you need to know about the Indian para-shooter competing in the Paris 2024 Paralympics
Among the 84 members of the Indian contingent going to the Paris 2024 Paralympics, para pistol shooter Nihal Singh is one to keep an eye on as a potential podium finisher. The Paris 2024 Paralympics commenced on September 28 and will end on August 8.
Nihal, despite a short career in the sports, has been one of the brightest talents in India’s para-shooting team, He has already won a number of medals secured from international tournaments in recent times.
Nihal will have the chance to grab his first Paralympic medal in Paris, as he will compete in the P3 25m pistol individual event in the SH1 category. He had also qualified for the 50m pistol event but had to surrender his quota due to a change in the Paralympic rule regarding the number of athletes a country can send.
As a result of his success at the top level, Nihal Singh will be expected to lead the line as a part of the 10-person shooting contingent representing India at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
Nihal Singh’s career in brief
Youngster Nihal Singh is an upcoming star in India’s para-shooting circuit, who has won several medals in both individual and team events.
The para-shooter, who competes in the SH1 category, started his career as an alumnus of the 10X Shooting Academy in Haryana’s Ballabhgarh, where he trained under national-level shooter Rakesh Thakur.
Nihal Singh announced himself to the world when he finished fourth in the 2022 WSPS World Championships in Al-Ain ahead of Paralympic medalist Singhraj.
Nihal then went on to taste international success in the 2022 Chateauroux World Cup, where he won the silver medal in the 25m pistol team event along with Singhraj and Rahul Jakhar.
In the 2023 WSPS World Cup in Osijek, Nihal Singh won a silver medal in the P4 mixed 50m pistol SH1 event. He then clinched an individual bronze medal in the WSPS World Cup II in Changwon, as well as a gold medal in the mixed team 10m air pistol event alongside Bhakti Sharma.
Nihal also achieved success in the 2023 WSPS World Championships in Lima, winning a bronze medal in the 25m air pistol event. He also won a gold medal in the team event comprising him alongside Amir Ahmad Bhatt and Rudrash Khandelwal.
However, his crowning moment came in the 2024 WSPS World Cup in New Delhi, when he won a bronze medal in the 50m pistol event, registering a score of 202.8. He also secured a silver medal in the team event along with Khandelwal and Singhraj.
As a result, he secured a berth in the Paris 2024 Paralympics, where he will go against favourites such as two-time Paralympic champion Huang Xing of China, as well as current world champion Yan Xiao Gong of the USA.
The P3 25m pistol event will take place on September 2.