Olympians Raiza, Anantjeet return as 12-member shotgun team for Lonato World Cup announced

Paris Olympians and Skeet shooters Raiza Dhillon and Anantjeet Singh Naruka are back in the Indian team as the selection committee of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) proposed a 12-member shotgun squad for the year’s final International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup scheduled between July 4-14 in Lonato Del Garda, Italy.

Among those who competed in the third Nicosia shotgun World Cup earlier this month, where India returned with its first ever ISSF medal (bronze) in the newest Olympic Trap mixed team event, only the seasoned Mairaj Ahmad Khan in men’s Skeet and Maheshwari Chauhan in women’s Skeet have retained their spots.

Making yet another comeback will be the indomitable veteran Zoravar Singh Sandhu in men’s Trap, as will 2018 Jakarta Asiad silver medallist Lakshay Sheoran, alongside him.

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Ganemat Sekhon, India’s most accomplished international woman Skeet Shooter with five senior ISSF medals, including two gold, will also be seen in action after missing out in Nicosia.

The Trap mixed team responsibilities will rest on the shoulders of Neeru Dhanda and Lakshay Sheoran and Preeti Rajak and Zoravar respectively.

The other members of the team are Pragati Dubey (women’s Trap), Jaswinder Singh (men’s Trap) and Bhavtegh Singh Gill (men’s Skeet).

The ISSF circuit has so far seen two Rifle/Pistol World Cup stages, three Shotgun World Cups and one combined Junior World Cup where Indian shooters have bagged a total of 27 medals including nine gold. They also topped the Junior World Cup standings and finished second and third in the first two senior combined world cups respectively.