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Sift Kaur Samra, a rising star in Indian shooting, is preparing for the upcoming Paris Olympics with a unique blend of determination and nonchalance. Her journey to the Olympic stage has been guided by coach Deepali Deshpande, who has nurtured her talent while respecting her individuality.Samra's shooting career began with a modest goal of winning a national medal. However, her exceptional talent and unwavering focus propelled her to the world stage. In 2022, she shattered the women's 50m rifle three positions world record score at the Asian Games, securing an individual gold medal.Deshpande, a former Olympian herself, recognized Samra's potential early on. Despite her busy schedule, she took Samra under her wing after the Tokyo Olympics. Their relationship is built on mutual respect and a shared understanding of Samra's unique approach to shooting.Samra's free-spirited nature and ability to switch between focus and relaxation have been key to her success. She balances her shooting with other interests, including music and studies. Deshpande encourages this balance, believing it reduces unnecessary pressure and allows Samra to approach shooting with a clear mind.The transition from junior to senior shooting can be challenging, but Samra has navigated it seamlessly. Her consistency as a junior has laid the foundation for her success at the senior level. Deshpande has worked tirelessly to refine Samra's technique, particularly her kneeling position.Samra's determination and open-mindedness have made her a joy to coach. She is always willing to listen to suggestions and experiment with new ideas. However, she also has a stubborn streak and is not afraid to voice her opinions.Despite her success, Samra remains grounded. She credits her close friends for providing support during difficult times. Deshpande respects this boundary and only intervenes when Samra specifically requests her assistance.As Samra prepares for her Olympic debut, she is determined to approach it with the same carefree attitude that has served her well so far. She aims to enjoy the experience and shoot with a smile, just as she did at the World University Games and Asian Games.

Indian rifle shooter Sift Kaur Samra is approaching her Olympic debut with a calm and collected mindset, treating it as just another international competition. Despite the magnitude of the event, Samra remains focused on her technique and the familiar routine she has developed in previous tournaments."It's the same; it's just a normal World Cup for us, and we always give our best in the World Cup," Samra told IANS. "This is another tournament where we will give our best. Yes, because it (Olympics) comes every four years, it is much bigger than the other World Cups. But I feel like it's the same people we had in the last World Cup, so it's going to be the same."Samra, who holds the Asian Games gold medal and a World Record of 469.6, emphasizes the importance of consistency and following the same principles that have brought her success in the past. "I just have to do the same things I did in my previous tournaments and training sessions. It's just the name that changes, not the people or the technique," she added.When asked about her preparation for the Paris Olympics, Samra highlighted the importance of following a structured training schedule. "It's the same it's like when we had a camp and the schedule given to us so we just followed that," she said.Samra is part of a 21-member Indian shooting team that will compete in the Paris Games. While only two rifle shooters on the team have prior Olympic experience, Samra has sought advice from veterans in other sports, including Saina Nehwal, Mary Kom, and Sania Mirza."One of them was reaching here is not an easy job but I have done that so 'you have to be confident you have to believe in yourself and you will be doing the best'. Another one is, 'you should have that fire to do your best and get something from Paris'," she said.In terms of her individual performance, Samra aims to improve upon her previous scores. "I just want that it should not be the same as in the last tournament which I have shot, it should be like one more. I will try to shoot one more point. If it was like 593 so then I will shoot 594 if it's my day. So, let's see, let's check out yeah but this one gonna be my target."

Anjum Moudgil, a former world no. 1 shooter, has overcome mental challenges to secure a berth at the Paris Olympics. After being left out of the Indian team for the Asian Games and World Championships last year, Moudgil worked on her mental toughness and focused on her training.Moudgil, who competed in two events in Tokyo, will only participate in the women's 50m 3 position in Paris. She admitted that being dropped from the team for the Worlds and Asian Games due to inconsistent form was an eye-opener."I really took advantage of quotas and trials," Moudgil said. "I was too focused and positive in giving my best in the trials. I knew my strengths and how to work under pressure, and it paid off."Moudgil emphasized the importance of mental health, noting that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has set up a Mentally Fit Helpline for athletes. "It's so important for all the federations and IOC to understand," she said. "It's important to understand the mental side, understand how it works for an athlete, understand mental toughness."India has named a strong 21-member shooting contingent for the Paris Games, including many youngsters. Moudgil is confident in the team's abilities. "All of them are confident, the team is doing very well," she said. "My expectation is for everyone to give their best, everyone going with a positive mindset."Moudgil is counting on her difficult Tokyo experience to shine in Paris. "Competing in one rather than two events both have positive and negative sides, but I am happy," she said. "The competition is very high in India and the pressure situations we face during trials will definitely help in Olympics."The shooting competitions of the Paris Olympics will be held at the National Shooting Center in Châteauroux, France. Moudgil is currently in Luxembourg for the final phase of her training before heading to France on July 21st.

The Tokyo Olympics left a lasting impact on the Indian shooting contingent, with many shooters still carrying the scars of a disappointing performance. Deepali Deshpande, the former national coach, described the environment as "depressing," while Anjum Moudgil called it a "controversial end."Only four rifle and pistol shooters from the 14 who competed in Tokyo have a chance to redeem themselves in Paris: Anjum Moudgil, Manu Bhaker, Elavenil Valarivan, and Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar. Each of these shooters has taken different paths since Tokyo, with Manu reuniting with her personal coach, Anjum experimenting with training coach-less, and Elavenil sticking with the same coaching setup.Anjum has identified two key lessons from Tokyo: to focus solely on herself and to cut the chaos. She has worked on creating a small but positive support group and will approach Paris with a more focused mindset. Elavenil, on the other hand, is feeling the pressure of the nation's expectations but is determined not to let it affect her preparation.Manu, who was a teenager during Tokyo, wants to embrace the chaos and chatter this time around. She plans to continue being herself and doing the things she loves, including playing the violin. She also hopes to play table tennis at the Games Village, something she was unable to do in Tokyo due to the pandemic.The build-up to Paris has a different look, with the shooting events taking place in Chateauroux, where the Indian team had a training camp last year. The absence of the pressure and unusual circumstances that plagued Tokyo is expected to create a more relaxed and enjoyable environment for the shooters."I'm hoping that Paris has a lot to give, and I have a lot to give to Paris as well," said Elavenil.

Sarabjot Singh, the 22-year-old shooting prodigy from Ambala, has set his sights firmly on the Paris Olympics. Despite his recent success at the Bhopal World Cup, where he won the individual 10m air pistol gold, Sarabjot remains focused on his ultimate goal: an Olympic medal."I like to celebrate only when I do things I've actually dreamt of," he said. "For me, it is not about winning World Cup medals, it is about winning the Olympic gold."Sarabjot's unwavering determination stems from years of visualization and a deep-seated passion for shooting. "Ek aag hoti hai bande ke andar (a fire burns inside one), that I want to do this," he said.His consistency and front sight focus, honed through tratak meditation, have been instrumental in his success. "It has done wonders for my front sight," he said. "I focus a lot on yoga and meditation."Despite his love for speed and cars, shooting remains Sarabjot's primary passion. "Shooting came later," he said. "I had a keen interest for racing and cars from a young age."However, Sarabjot's journey has not been without its challenges. Last year, a nagging shoulder issue threatened to derail his progress. "That was a difficult phase, the lowest point of my career so far," he said.Undeterred, Sarabjot persevered, skipping tournaments and undergoing rehabilitation. "My goal was to be at the Paris Olympics and win a medal there," he said. "That is what I had visualized."With the Paris quota secured, Sarabjot is now focused on fine-tuning his skills and preparing for the biggest stage of all. "Pressure is built from outside," he said. "In my mind, I had no pressure. I wasn't even thinking that I have to do well in these trials and stuff like that."Sarabjot's unwavering belief in himself and his unwavering pursuit of excellence make him a formidable contender for Olympic glory.

Indian Shooters Gear Up for Paris Olympic Trials in BhopalThe Indian shooting contingent is set to resume their quest for Olympic glory as the third and fourth Olympic Selection Trials (OST) commence in Bhopal on Saturday. With 16 Paris quota places secured in pistol and rifle events, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) is conducting trials among the top five shooters in each event to determine the squad for the Games.In shooting, Olympic quotas are earned for the country, but individual shooters must prove their worth in selection trials to secure their berths in Paris. The top two shooters in each event, based on the average of their best three trial scores out of four, will represent India at the Olympics.The first two trials were held in New Delhi last month, and the MP State Shooting Academy in Bhopal will host the remaining trials over the next nine days. The opening day will feature the men's 25m rapid-fire pistol and women's 25m pistol T3 qualification rounds, with the finals scheduled for Sunday.A total of 16 matches across eight Olympic rifle and pistol individual events will be held, culminating in the men's and women's 10m air rifle T4 finals on May 19. Three women shooters, Olympian Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh, and Rhythm Sangwan, are vying for multiple events, including the 25m sport pistol and 10m air pistol.Among the favorites in the men's rapid-fire pistol event are Anish Bhanwala and Vijayveer Sidhu, who hold quota places and have performed well in the first two trials. In the 25m sport pistol, Manu and Esha have emerged as strong contenders after the initial trials.Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Ashi Chouksey will renew their rivalry for Olympic spots in the men's and women's 50m rifle 3 positions, respectively.The trials will be a crucial test for the Indian shooters as they aim to secure their places in the Paris Olympic squad. With the competition expected to be intense, the top performers will have the opportunity to represent their country on the world's biggest sporting stage.

Indian shooters continued their disappointing performance at the ISSF World Cup in Baku, with none of the skeet exponents in both men's and women's events qualifying for the finals.In the men's skeet event, Asian Games silver medalist Anant Jeet Singh Naruka finished 15th with a qualifying score of 120/125. Veteran marksman Mairaj Ahmad Khan, 48, managed only 105 and finished 76th among 80 shooters. Sheeraz Sheikh finished 54th with an aggregate of 115.In the women's skeet event, Raiza Dhillon finished 16th with an aggregate of 114/125, while Maheshwari Chauhan was 20th with 113 points. Ganemat Sekhon finished 25th with 111 points.The Indian trap shooters had also failed to impress earlier in the World Cup, with none of them making it to the finals. Vivaan Kapoor narrowly missed the six-shooter finals, finishing seventh, while Prithvi Tondaiman finished 24th and Bhowneesh Mendiratta finished 39th. Veteran Zoravar Singh Sandhu finished 52nd.Olympic quota winner Rajeshwari Kumari finished 23rd in trap with a qualification round score of just 108/125, while Shreyasi Singh managed only 107.The dismal performance of the Indian shooters in Baku is a cause for concern, as it comes just months before the Tokyo Olympics. The shooters will need to improve their form significantly if they want to challenge for medals at the Games.

Palak Gulia, the 18-year-old shooting prodigy, has secured an Olympic quota for India in the 10m air pistol event. However, her journey is far from over as she faces the daunting task of defending her quota in the upcoming Olympic selection trials.The trials, scheduled from April 18 to May 19, will be the first time India selects its Olympic shooting squad based on domestic competitions. The pressure is immense, as shooters know that their years of preparation could be wasted if they fail to perform.Palak's coach, Rakesh Singh, believes that her recent quota win will give her an edge in the trials. "She is in a good frame of mind and will go into the selection trials with a lot of confidence," he said.Palak's rise to prominence has been meteoric. She emerged from relative obscurity to win the 10m air pistol gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Her unexpected victory marked her as a special talent.However, the competition in the trials will be fierce. Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh, and Rhythm Sangwan will all be vying for the two air pistol quotas alongside Palak. Esha had previously earned the other quota spot."Shooters know that if you do not do well, all your hard work of two or three years is going to go to waste," said 25m pistol coach Ronak Pandit. "So, the pressure is going to be enormous."Despite the pressure, Palak's personal coach, Singh, believes she is mature beyond her age. "She is mentally strong and very mature. Her attention level at the time when she is in the firing lane is amazing, and that's what counts in shooting," he said.Palak's journey to the Olympics has been marked by both triumph and adversity. After her Asian Games gold, she struggled a bit and finished 25th at the Asian Championships. However, she stepped up just at the right time to seal the Olympic quota in the qualifying event in Rio, where she won a bronze medal.Now, Palak faces the challenge of defending her quota and proving that she is worthy of representing India at the Olympics. The trials will be a true test of her mental strength and shooting prowess.

Indian Shooters Aim for Paris 2024 Glory with New StrategyIn the wake of a disappointing performance at the Tokyo Olympics, the Indian shooting contingent is implementing a revised strategy for the upcoming Paris 2024 Games. Recognizing the need for a more balanced approach, the shooters will now prioritize rest and recovery in the lead-up to the event.National rifle coach Suma Shirur emphasized the importance of this "big change," explaining that the shooters will fly to Paris from home after a period of recharge. This contrasts with the extended training camp in Croatia prior to the Tokyo Games, which contributed to the team's lackluster performance.India's shooters have already secured a record 19 quota places for the Paris Olympics. After the domestic Olympic trials in April-May, the team will participate in the ISSF World Cup in Munich from May 31 to June 8. This will be their only competition before the Games.Following the World Cup, the shooters will have a brief training camp in Germany before returning to India for mental rejuvenation. Shirur believes this approach will allow the athletes to peak at the right time."After the Olympic trials, we'll be going to the Munich World Cup, which is the first and the last competition where the team gets a chance to be comfortable in the shoes of being an Olympian," Shirur said. "After the World Cup, we will have a short training camp in Germany. Shooters will have the chance to come back (to India) and emotionally recover, recharge and rejuvenate before we have a small camp and then fly to the Games."With a strong quota count and the momentum from last year's Asian Games, the Indian shooting team is focused on building an efficient path to Paris. Rifle shooters have been particularly successful in securing quotas early."The shooters are in a very good zone now, so now it's about sharpening things as we move forward," Shirur said. "Most of the work has been done since last year. Now, we just need to fine tune them and focus on how to perform. Self-regulation is one of the most important aspects we are going to be working on going forward, because no matter how you feel, you still need to be able to go out there and perform."