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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.

Olympian shooter Manu Bhaker has emerged as the most successful athlete in the Olympic Selection Trials (OST) Rifle/Pistol, winning four titles across two events. On the concluding day of the trials in Bhopal, Bhaker triumphed in the women's 10m air pistol OST T4 match, adding to her previous victory in the women's 25m sports pistol.Bhaker's dominance in the 10m air pistol event was evident as she shot 240.8 in the final, leaving Hangzhou Asian Games champion Palak a distant 4.4 points behind in second place. Rhythm Sangwan secured the third spot.In the women's 10m air rifle OST T4, Elavenil Valarivan set a new benchmark by scoring 254.3, surpassing the current world record of 254.0 held by China's Han Jiayu. Ramita and Mehuli Ghosh finished second and third, respectively.Divyansh Panwar claimed the men's air rifle OST T4 title with a score of 253.3, just 0.4 below his own world record. Arjun Babuta and Rudrankksh Patil took the second and third spots.Ravinder Singh emerged victorious in the men's 10m air pistol OST T4 final with a score of 242.2. Varun Tomar and Sarabjot Singh finished second and third, respectively.The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) conducted a series of four trials in Delhi and Bhopal to select the squad for the Paris Olympics. The top-three scores in the trials, along with Paris Olympics quota bonus points, will determine the Indian squad for the Summer Games.Indian shooters will next compete in the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol in Munich from May 31 to June 08.

Olympian Manu Bhaker and Paris quota winner Vijayveer Sidhu emerged victorious in the fourth and final Olympic Selection Trial (OST) for 25m pistol events in Bhopal on Tuesday.Manu, under the guidance of legendary pistol shooter Jaspal Rana, showcased her dominance by equaling the world record with a score of 42 in the women's 25m Pistol OST T4 final. Vijayveer, on the other hand, secured a score of 34 in the decider of the men's 25m rapid-fire pistol OST T4 to claim victory.Manu's consistent performance throughout the trials was evident as she won two and finished second in the other two. She was the only shooter among the selected five to maintain a score above 580 in the qualification round. Abhidnya Patil (35) and Simranpreet Kaur Brar (30) secured the second and third podium positions, respectively.In the men's rapid fire event, Vijayveer took an early lead and maintained it until the final series to register his first outright victory in the trials. Anish Bhanwala (30) and Adarsh Singh (25) finished second and third, respectively. Anish, however, emerged as the most successful shooter in the event, having won two trials and finished second in the other two.The qualification rounds for the men's and women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions event will take place on Wednesday, with local hopes Aishwary Tomar and Ashi Chouksey set to participate.

Manu Bhaker, the Indian shooting prodigy, showcased her exceptional skills at the Women's 25m Pistol Qualification of the Olympics Selection (OST) Trials 1 in New Delhi, eclipsing the world record score by a remarkable six points. Her precision and consistency were evident throughout the competition, as she topped the qualification round with an impressive performance.Bhaker's dominance was evident in the final, where she displayed unwavering focus and accuracy. Her scores in the 10 series of five rapid-fire shots were a testament to her exceptional technique: 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 5, 5, and 5. This remarkable performance earned her a clear lead over her competitors.While Esha Singh was eliminated in the seventh series, Bhaker had already established a significant lead of six points over Rhythm Sangwan and Abhidnya Patil, who were tied at that stage. Despite Singh's strong performance in qualifying, Bhaker's superior performance in the final secured her the top spot.In the Men's 25m Rapid-Fire Pistol event, Anish Bhanwala emerged victorious, demonstrating his mastery of the discipline. He finished with 33 hits, a clear six ahead of Vijayveer Sidhu, who placed second. Adarsh Singh secured the third spot with 23 hits.Bhavesh Shekhawat, who had topped the qualifications, finished fourth with 18 hits, while Ankur Goel was the first to exit with 10 hits.Bhaker's world record-breaking performance and Bhanwala's triumph in the Men's 25m Rapid-Fire Pistol event highlight the exceptional talent and determination of India's shooting contingent. As they prepare for the upcoming Olympics, these athletes are poised to make a significant impact on the global stage.