With form, talent and home advantage on their side, India will begin their campaign in the ISSF World Cup in New Delhi on Friday.
Unlike the hugely successful duo of Abhinav Bindra and Gagan Narang, who would on most occasions, start India's campaign in major international tournaments, this year it will be an unheralded trio that will do the honours.
While India’s Olympic gold medallist has dropped the gun after being on the verge of repeating history at the Rio Games last summer, Narang – a bronze medallist at the 2012 London edition – continues his quest to add to the laurels he has brought over the past many years.
Indian Shooting’s New Beginning?
In this tournament, Narang has been able to book a berth only in the rifle prone event, and not in air rifle or rifle 3-position, pretty much in line with the new beginning that awaits Indian shooting.
On day one of competition, having earned their places on the back of some good performances in the selection trials, the triumvirate of Satyendra Singh, Ravi Kumar and Deepak Kumar will be up against a formidable field in the men's 10m air rifle event.
Before their male counterparts, the women's 10m air rifle team will be represented by Pooja Ghatkar, Meghana Sajjanar and Vinita Bharadwaj, with Olympian Apurvi Chandela in MQS (Minimum Qualification Score).
There will also be the trap women's event in which Rajeshwari Kumari, Seema Tomar and Manisha Kheer will be the Indian representatives. The experienced Shagun Chowdhary and Shreyashi Singh will shoot in MQS.
Prior to the blip at Rio de Janeiro, Indian shooters had been making their guns and pistols talk. The barren run in the Summer Games was a reality check and the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) promptly constituted a panel that conducted a thorough probe and recommended a slew of measures to overhaul the setup.
50 Countries, 452 Athletes: Will India Come on Top?
A total of 50 countries will be represented by 452 athletes, including reigning and former Olympic champions, world champions and continental champions, in the tournament that will conclude on 4 March.
The sport of shooting has come a long way, and the ISSF World Cup New Delhi 2017 is certainly yet another inflexion point for the sport in the country. We warmly welcome all visiting athletes, officials and delegates. It is a proud moment for all our countrymen and we are confident that our athletes will give their very best to make the tricolour fly high.Raninder Singh, NRAI President
Among the world's top shooters present, there will be the likes of Diana Bacosi, Gabriele Rosetti, Hoang Xuan Vinh, Mengxue Zhang, Felipe Almeida Wu, Kimberly Rhodes and double Dakar rally champion and Olympic bronze medallist in shooting, Nasser Al-Attaiya.
(With inputs from PTI.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)