A strong Indian shooting team will compete at the ISSF World Cup starting July 20 in the Chinese City of Hangzhou.
Indian Army pistol shooter Kedarling Balakrishna Uchaganve rose to prominence at last month’s Asian Games selection trials as he topped the charts.
All eyes will be on him as the Indian contingent competes in the upcoming ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, China starting July 20. The global competition is expected to attract more than 600 shooters from across the world and will be conducted in pistol/rifle/shotgun events.
The Hangzhou event will be Uchaganve’s first World Cup since he last competed at the Cairo World Cup in 2022. “I am not a raw shooter. I have competed in four international events. But haven’t won any medal,” was Uchaganve’s response when asked about his international experience.
The Indian shooting contingent will leave tonight for China. At the Asian Games selection trials some of the top pistol shooters like Paris Olympic bronze medallist in mixed 10m air pistol Sarabjot Singh and World champion Samrat Rana failed to find a place. Uchaganve, 26, has remained calm to outclass some of the best in the business.
What are your plans for China’s World Cup as expectations are high? The response was prompt. “I know I have to do my best,” he told Sportsbackstory.com on Friday.
Hailing from Belgaum in Karnataka, Uchaganve joined the regular Army course and during talent scouting he was impressive. In 2018 he joined the Army’s elite shooting wing in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh. Since then he has represented the Indian team four times in international events.
He missed the 2024 selection trials for the Paris Olympics as the top six were eligible. He was seventh. “I worked hard to make a mark and cement my place in the Indian team for the Asian Games,” he reveals.
EOM
