Galaxy of shooters will be seen in action at the ISSF World Cup in the German city of Munich ahead of the global competition in Egypt later in the year
The ISSF World Cup in rifle and pistol competitions in the German city of Munich will give a good opportunity to elite shooters to evaluate their performance ahead of the world championships in November in Egypt.
Since ISSF World Cup in Munich is in the middle of the season, the majority of the leading nations in shooting will be in full force to test their skills and iron out gray areas if any to further strengthen themselves to be successful in cut throat competition at the world championships in Cairo from November 6 to 18.
After the Munich World Cup, top shooters will get another chance to test their skills at the ISSF World Cup in rifle and pistol in September. Meanwhile shooters from the Asian countries will have continental competition in August to prepare for the world championships.
More than 600 shooters including Olympic and World champions will stand at the ranges in Munich and is expected to be the most competitive this year. Medals will be decided in as many as events on Tuesday (June 10).
India has a 22-strong team across the 10-events, including the two mixed team events at the Munich World Cup. Prominent among them is Swapnil Kusale, the Paris bronze medalist in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions (3P).
Two-time Olympian Elavenil Valarivan will also be seen in international competitive action for the first time since Paris.
The Indian shooters began their season with the ISSF World Cup in South America (Buenos Aires and Lima) but the Munich leg of the World Cup will be more challenging as cream of global shooting will be in fray.
Two Chinese marksmen, including legendary Li Yuehong, reigning Olympic champion and three-time Olympic medalist will be one to watch in the 25m rapid-fire pistol (RFP). The 20 years old Sheng Lihao, the reigning Olympic and World champion will be seen in action in the air rifle event.
Sheng had set a new finals world record at the previous edition of the ISSF Munich World Cup in 10m air rifle. He won the 2024 Paris Olympic Games gold medal in the 10m air rifle.
Hosts Germany will field a strong 27-member contingent. Pistol legend and former Olympic and World champion Christian Reitz and Anna Janssen will be among the squad.
The Koreans will also be there in full force with 19-shooters, among them two of their three reigning women Olympic champions Yang Jiin (25m pistol) and Oh Yejin (10m air pistol).
Reigning mixed team air pistol Paris champions Damir Mikec and Zorana Arunovic will headline a 15-member Serbian squad, while women’s 3P exponent Chiara Leone, will complete the line-up of reigning Olympic champions in Munich. She will accompany an equally high-quality 11-member Switzerland team.
