Sports
India Name Strong Squad Led by Manu Bhaker, Swapnil Kusale for ISSF World Cup 2026 in Hangzhou
By MILLENNIUM NEWSROOM Desk · Published: Jul 20, 2026 07:12 AM
3 min read
India have announced a strong squad for the upcoming ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun, scheduled to take place in Hangzhou, China, from July 20 to 29, 2026. The Indian contingent features several of the country's top shooters as they aim for another successful campaign on the international stage across rifle, pistol, shotgun and mixed team events.
Leading the squad are Olympic medallists Manu Bhaker and Swapnil Kusale, alongside accomplished shooters Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Esha Singh, Suruchi, Elavenil Valarivan, Sift Kaur Samra, Sonam Uttam Maskar, Anish Bhanwala, Raiza Dhillon, Ganemat Sekhon and Olympian Anant Jeet Singh Naruka.
India's Rifle Squad for ISSF World Cup
India have named a balanced rifle squad across the 10m Air Rifle and 50m Rifle 3 Positions events.
Men's 10m Air Rifle
- Parth Rakesh Mane
- Himanshu Dhillon
- Shahu Tushar Mane
- Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil
Women's 10m Air Rifle
- Elavenil Valarivan
- Sonam Uttam Maskar
- Sakshi Sunil Padekar
Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions
- Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar
- Niraj Kumar
- Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil
Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions
- Ashi Chouksey
- Vidarsa K Vinod
- Sift Kaur Samra
Strong Pistol Line-up Headlined by Manu Bhaker
India's pistol contingent combines experienced Olympians with emerging talent. Suruchi, Sainyam and Esha Singh will compete in the women's 10m Air Pistol event, while Kedarling B. Uchaganve, Kamaljeet and Aakash Bhardwaj will feature in the men's competition.
Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker has been selected for the women's 25m Pistol event alongside Esha Singh and veteran Rahi Sarnobat. In the men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol, India will be represented by Anish Bhanwala, Omkar Singh and Bhavesh Shekhawat.
Shotgun Team Features Experienced Campaigners
India's shotgun squad includes several experienced international competitors.
Men's Trap
- Udavir Singh Jajee
- Bhowneesh Mendiratta
- Vivaan Kapoor
Women's Trap
- Pragati Dubey
- Kirti Gupta
- Rajeshwari Kumari
Men's Skeet
- Gurjoat Singh Khangura
- Parampal Singh Guron
- Abhay Singh Sekhon
Women's Skeet
- Ganemat Sekhon
- Darshna Rathore
- Yashasvi Rathore
India will also contest the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team, 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team and Trap Mixed Team events during the World Cup.
ISSF World Cup 2026 Medal Schedule
| Date | Finals (Local Time) |
|---|---|
| July 22 | 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team (1:00 PM), Men's 10m Air Rifle (5:30 PM) |
| July 23 | Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions (1:00 PM), Women's Skeet (4:15 PM), Men's Skeet (5:45 PM) |
| July 24 | Women's 10m Air Pistol (2:00 PM), Men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol (4:30 PM) |
| July 25 | Women's 10m Air Rifle (2:30 PM) |
| July 26 | Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions (1:00 PM), Men's 10m Air Pistol (3:30 PM) |
| July 27 | Women's 25m Pistol (12:45 PM), Women's Trap (4:15 PM), Men's Trap (5:45 PM) |
| July 28 | 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team (12:00 PM), Trap Mixed Team (4:15 PM) |
The competition officially begins on July 22, with the first medals to be decided in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team and Men's 10m Air Rifle events. The tournament concludes on July 28 with the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team and Trap Mixed Team finals, as India look to add to their growing reputation as one of the world's leading shooting nations.
About the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF)
The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) is the global governing body for Olympic shooting disciplines, overseeing international competitions, rankings and qualification events for rifle, pistol and shotgun shooting.
(Inputs from Press Release)