Following an announcement by the International Shooting Sport Federation last year, the NRAI is set to host the ISSF World Cup in New Delhi. The event timeline begins on March 15th with the delegations' arrival, moves into specialized training on March 21st, and wraps up on March 26th, 2020.
The NRAI prioritizes a holistic approach to athlete preparation, ensuring that nominated shooters are in top form both physically and mentally. For the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, India has qualified 15 shooters, with seven women specifically targeting podium finishes. The female roster for Tokyo features Tejaswini Sawant, Anjum Moudgil, Apurvi Chandela, Rahi Sarnobat, Chinki Yadav, and Manu Bhaker.
In anticipation of the ISSF World Cup in India, Manu Bhaker shared some insights into her Olympic preparations. Since 2018, Bhaker has emerged as a source of national pride, accumulating a series of gold medals. The 18-year-old specialist in the 10-meter air pistol earned top honors at the Commonwealth Games and the 2019 Asian Shooting Championship in both individual and mixed team events. Her impressive track record also includes wins at the 2018 World Cups in both Guadalajara and Munich.
To secure a medal at the 2020 Olympics, Manu Bhaker is focusing on two key areas: perfecting her proximity to the target and maintaining a composed mindset. Since this is her first Olympic experience, she prefers to approach the event with a fresh perspective, intentionally avoiding second-hand information or opinions from others. While she is a master of the 10-meter air pistol, Bhaker also competed in the 25-meter event at the 2019 World Cup, though she didn't quite manage to secure a top spot in that specific discipline.
Maintaining emotional stability is a priority for Bhaker, who credits music as a vital tool for staying centered. She also integrates reading, meditation, and journaling into her routine; these habits help her manage high-pressure situations and clear her mind, which ultimately leads to better accuracy and scores during her training.
Raninder Singh, President of the NRAI, noted that the Indian team's participation in the Olympic Test Event for Rifle, Pistol, and Shotgun—originally set for April 2020 in Japan—could be jeopardized if the COVID-19 pandemic continues to escalate leading up to the Games.