Kusale, Elavenil back in side to lead India in Munich World Cup

Paris Olympics bronze medallist Swapnil Kusale will lead the Indian squad along with comeback shooter Elavenil Valarivan at the season's third ISSF World Cup, which will feature a galaxy of international stars

Munich: Paris Olympics bronze medallist Swapnil Kusale will lead the Indian squad along with comeback shooter Elavenil Valarivan at the season’s third ISSF World Cup, which will feature a galaxy of international stars, beginning here from Tuesday.

Kusale fought his way back to the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions (3P) event on the back of a good show on the domestic circuit. Two-time Olympian Elavenil will be seen in international action for the first time since Paris, although she did make the trip to Buenos Aires and Lima as an RPO (Ranking Points Only) shooter.

---

Reigning Asian Games champion Palak in the women’s air pistol also makes it back to the team. There will be a few World Cup debuts like newly-crowned women’s air rifle national champion Ananya Naidu.

There will be two new faces in the men’s air pistol — Aditya Malra and Nishant Rawat — as India explores their depth in the two disciplines ahead of bigger challenges later in the year. A total of 695 athletes, including Olympic and World champions and legends of the sport from 78 countries, will participate in the World Cup.