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India's Olympic journey towards Paris 2024 has begun with a promising start. The country has already secured 100 quotas across various sports, including archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, equestrian, golf, hockey, judo, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting, and wrestling.The Tokyo Olympics saw India create history with its largest-ever contingent and its biggest medal haul in a single edition. Neeraj Chopra's historic gold in men's javelin throw was a defining moment. At Paris 2024, the focus will once again be on Chopra, who will look to defend his title.In shooting, India has secured quotas in every Olympic category for the first time. Trap shooter Prithviraj Tondaiman and women's trap shooter Rajeshwari Kumari were among the first to qualify.Athletics has also seen significant progress. Race walkers Priyanka Goswami and Akshdeep Singh became the first Indians to qualify for the event at Paris 2024. Four Indian athletes breached the qualifying standard in the men's 20km walk, with Akshdeep, Vikash, and Paramjeet Singh receiving the nod.In boxing, Jasmine Lamboria secured the quota in the women's 57kg category. Renowned sports medicine expert Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala has assured that all athletes are in prime condition for the Olympics.The complete list of Indian athletes who have qualified for Paris 2024 so far includes:* Archery: Dhiraj Bommadevara, Tarundeep Rai, Pravin Jadhav, Bhajan Kaur, Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat* Athletics: Akshdeep Singh, Vikash Singh, Paramjeet Singh Bisht, Priyanka Goswami, Avinash Sable, Parul Chaudhary, Jyothi Yarraji, Kiran Pahal, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, Abha Khatua, Neeraj Chopra, Kishore Jena, Annu Rani, Sarvesh Kushare, Praveen Chithravel, Abdulla Aboobacker, Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Muhammed Ajmal, Amoj Jacob, Santhosh Tamilarasan, Rajesh Ramesh, Mijo Chaco Kurian, Vidhya Ramaraj, Jyothika Sri Dandi, MR Poovamma, Subha Venkatesan, Prachi, Priyanka Goswami/Suraj Panwar* Badminton: H.S Prannoy, Lakshya Sen, P.V Sindhu, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Ashwini Ponappa, Tanisha Crasto* Boxing: Nikhat Zareen, Amit Phangal, Nishant Dev, Preeti Pawar, Lovlina Borgohain, Jaismine Lamboria* Equestrian: Anush Agarwalla* Golf: Subhankar Sharma, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Aditi Ashok, Diksha Dagar* Hockey: P.R Sreejesh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rogidas, Harmanpreet Singh, Sumit, Sanjay, Rajkumar Pal, Shamsher Singh, Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Mandeep Singh, Gujrant Singh* Judo: Tulika Mann* Rowing: Balraj Panwar* Sailing: Vishnu Saravanan, Nethra Kumanan* Shooting: Prithviraj Tondaiman, Rajeshwari Kumari, Shreyasi Singh, Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Raiza Dhillon, Maheshwari Chauhan, Anantjeet Singh Naruka/Maheshwari Chauhan, Sandeep Singh, Arjun Babuta, Elavenil Valarivan, Ramita Jindal, Swapnil Kusale, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Sift Kaur Samra, Anjum Moudgil, Sandeep Singh/Elavenil Valarivan, Arjun Babuta/Ramita Jindal, Arjun Cheema, Sarabjot Singh, Manu Bhaker, Rhythm Sangwam, Vijayveer Sidhu, Anish Bhanwala, Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh, Sarabjot Singh/Manu Bhakar, Arjun Cheema/Rhythm Sangwam* Swimming: Dhinidhi Desinghu, Srihari Nataraj* Table Tennis: Sharath Kamal, Harmeet Desai, Manav Thakkar, Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula, Archana Kamath* Tennis: Sumit Nagal, Rohan Bopanna, Sriram Balaji* Weightlifting: Mirabai Chanu* Wrestling: Aman Sehrawat, Vinesh Phogat, Anshu Malik, Nisha Dahiya, Reetika Hooda, Antim Phangal

The Indian sporting landscape is witnessing a growing trend of elite athletes opting for personalized training under personal coaches, breaking away from the traditional national set-up. This shift is evident across various sports, including shooting, wrestling, athletics, table tennis, badminton, and boxing.Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, double Olympic medalist PV Sindhu, and world championship medalist Vinesh Phogat are among the prominent athletes who have embraced this approach. With government and sponsors providing financial support, more athletes are hiring personal trainers and physiotherapists to tailor their training programs.Dronacharya awardee badminton coach Vimal Kumar believes this shift is a sign of Indian sport's growth. However, he emphasizes that top athletes should invest their own resources in support staff rather than relying on government funds.In shooting, the trend has been particularly noticeable. The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has allowed personal coaches to accompany their trainees at camps ahead of the Olympics. Former shooting international Deepali Deshpande, who has worked with both national and personal coaches, highlights the importance of providing support for athletes who may not make the national team.Wrestling has also seen a shift towards personalized training, with elite wrestlers opting to train at their academies in the absence of national camps. Star wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia have achieved success with personal coaches since 2018, inspiring others to follow suit.In table tennis, the friction between personal and national coaches flared up at the Tokyo Games. However, Italian coach Massimo Costantini has been roped in ahead of the Paris Olympics and has welcomed the presence of personal coaches.Badminton shuttlers, including Chirag Shetty-Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, PV Sindhu, and Lakshya Sen, are also working under personalized training plans.While personal coaches provide individualized attention and tailored training programs, national coaches play a crucial role in preparing athletes for team events and providing guidance during competitions. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has identified "medal hopefuls" who will be allowed to bring personal coaches and support staff to the Paris Olympics, subject to availability of slots.

The 2008 Beijing Olympics marked a turning point for Indian sports, thanks to the remarkable achievement of Abhinav Bindra. Despite the absence of the men's hockey team for the first time since 1928 and the doping bans that decimated the weightlifting contingent, India found a beacon of hope in Bindra.Bindra's gold medal in the men's 10m air rifle was not a stroke of luck but the culmination of meticulous preparation. Having finished seventh at the 2004 Athens Olympics, Bindra spent years honing his skills in Germany under the guidance of renowned coaches. He underwent rigorous training, including commando exercises, to overcome his stage fright.During the qualification round, Bindra sailed through with a score of 596, while his compatriot Gagan Narang narrowly missed out. However, in the finals, Bindra faced a setback during sighting time when his gun sight malfunctioned. With quick thinking, he made adjustments and regained his composure.Throughout the finals, Bindra displayed unwavering calmness, consistently shooting 10s and above. Finland's Henri Häkkinen kept pace until the final shot, but his 9.7 score fell short of Bindra's near-perfect 10.8. The Indian finished with a total score of 700.5, securing the gold medal.Bindra's victory was a watershed moment for Indian sports. It shattered the perception that India could not compete at the highest level in shooting. His gold medal inspired a new generation of athletes, including javelin star Neeraj Chopra, who became India's first-ever gold medallist in athletics at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

As the scorching Indian summer subsides, India's elite shooters embark on a crucial stage of their Olympic preparations at the ISSF World Cup (Pistol/Rifle) in Munich, Germany, commencing on Saturday.Despite the grueling month-long trials in New Delhi and Bhopal, several shooters initially expressed reluctance to participate in the World Cup, citing fatigue and a desire to focus on their Olympic preparations. However, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) made participation mandatory and reportedly resolved the contentious issue of personal coaches, paving the way for the Paris-bound marksmen to gauge their progress.The issue of personal coaches had been a major point of contention, with shooters seeking greater flexibility in their training arrangements. While the matter appears to have been temporarily resolved, many personal coaches will not accompany their wards to Munich due to the late notice.The World Cup will also serve as a litmus test for shooters who have displaced the original Paris quota winners in the national squad through a series of Olympic Selection Trials (OSTs). The federation will be keen to assess the performances of these shooters, including rookie Army man Sandeep Singh, who has emerged as a surprise contender in the 10m air rifle event.The NRAI faces a dilemma in selecting the Paris-bound team, as it must strictly adhere to its Olympic selection policy based on the OSTs. However, several Olympic quota winners who lost out to their compatriots during the trials have appealed to be considered for Paris, creating an unprecedented situation.The NRAI is expected to announce the Olympic contingent during the World Cup, a process that has been delayed. This delay has hindered shooters' ability to fine-tune their preparations, including critical ammunition testing.The World Cup in Munich provides an opportunity for shooters to connect with European manufacturers and test the ammunition they intend to use at the Olympics. The event will commence with men's and women's 10m air rifle, with the finals scheduled for Monday.

Former Indian shooting ace Jaspal Rana has vehemently criticized the National Rifle Association of India's (NRAI) decision to send Olympic-bound shooters to the World Cup in Munich, commencing on Friday. Rana, an Asian Games gold medalist, questioned the rationale behind selecting Olympic-bound shooters for the World Cup just before the quadrennial event.Rana emphasized that the World Cup will not benefit shooters in their Olympic preparations, as it is challenging to maintain peak performance for an extended period. "No player wants to perform badly in the World Cup. But if you're at your peak now, will you be at your peak after one month also? Which sports science center will tell you that players can stay at their peak for three months? You can't stay at peak level for long," Rana asserted.He further criticized the NRAI's inconsistent policy, stating, "The policy was wrong, and when you've made the policy, just stick to it. You're not sticking to your policy. If there is no ranking and point system in the Munich World Cup, why are you delaying the names of the selected shooters for the Olympics? Even if you have to adjust one to two players, then reveal the rest of the players so that they can start their preparations."Rana suggested that India should have followed the approach adopted by other countries like China and the USA, who have sent their second-string squads to the World Cup in Germany. "Other countries have sent their B or C category squad for the World Cup. Very less Olympic-bound shooters will participate in it. This is not an opportunity for the Olympic team," he said.With less than two months remaining for the Paris Olympics, there is still no clarity on India's shooting squad for the event. Rana expressed concern about the lack of leadership within the NRAI, stating, "I've failed to understand that if NRAI doesn't have the president, chairman of the selection committee, and policy-making committee, then how are they selecting the team? It could be one of the reasons that the chairman of the NRAI selection committee is not there, that's why they're delaying the announcement."Despite the challenges, Rana remains optimistic about the Indian shooters' performance in Paris. "Yes, we were well prepared last time. This time too, our preparations are pretty well. The only thing that went wrong last time was the postponement of the Games due to Covid-19. Our team was at its peak at the time of the Olympics (as per the original schedule in 2020). After that, due to a lot of problems, we couldn't manage it properly," he said. "I'm quite positive," Rana added, expressing his belief in India's medal chances at the Paris Olympics.

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) is seeking clarification from the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) regarding the rules for mixed team events at the upcoming Paris Olympics. This clarification could potentially impact India's Olympic selection process.NRAI has conducted four rounds of Olympic Selection Trials (OST) to select the shooting team, but the final squad announcement is pending. The trials produced some unexpected results, with 2022 World Champion Rudrankksh Patil finishing third in the 10m air rifle event, behind Sandeep Singh and Arjun Babuta.According to NRAI's selection policy, the top two shooters in the trials automatically qualify for the Olympics. However, for mixed team events, the ISSF rule for Paris Olympics states that if the number of mixed teams entered exceeds the available firing points, the Qualification Ranking for Olympic Games (QROG) will be used to determine the final entry list.The QROG considers the combined points of both members of the mixed team in their respective individual events. Rudrankksh currently ranks second in the QROG for 10m air rifle, while Babuta is 33rd and Singh is 48th. This means that Rudrankksh, who did not qualify for the Olympics individually, could have a better chance of qualifying for the mixed team event based on his QROG ranking.NRAI has sought clarification on the number of mixed teams that will be selected and the criteria that will be followed. The association has also issued fresh Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for personal coaches who wish to accompany their wards during training in the lead-up to the Olympics.

Ahead of the crucial preparatory phase for the Paris Olympics, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has been actively addressing concerns raised by shooters regarding the involvement of personal coaches and participation in the upcoming ISSF Munich World Cup.Personal Coach Involvement:NRAI has held discussions with shooters to resolve issues related to the role of personal coaches in training plans. The association has emphasized the importance of personal coaches in providing moral and technical support, but has also stressed the need for a common training schedule to ensure proper monitoring of Olympic shooters.To address this, NRAI has proposed a collaborative approach where personal coaches, national coaches, the High Performance Director (HPD), and shooters work together to develop a mutually agreed-upon training program. This program will be followed in all training camps leading up to the Olympics.Munich World Cup Participation:Some shooters have expressed concerns about fatigue after the month-long Olympic trials and have requested to skip the Munich World Cup. NRAI has granted flexibility to shooters, allowing them to choose the events they wish to compete in or even participate only in the ranking round.However, NRAI has emphasized the importance of the Munich World Cup as it provides an opportunity to experience the Olympic format and environment without the pressure. The competition will also serve as a valuable benchmark for the Olympic squad, which is yet to be announced.Guidelines for Personal Coaches:NRAI has issued guidelines for personal coaches, outlining their roles and responsibilities during the training phase leading up to the Paris Olympics. These guidelines include restrictions on direct communication with shooters during events and entry into certain areas.While some personal coaches have objected to these guidelines, NRAI has invited them to attend NRAI camps to discuss the matter further. The association aims to be flexible and consider each case individually, but emphasizes the need for understanding and collaboration between coaches and shooters.

Sandeep Singh's journey to the cusp of Olympic glory is a testament to his unwavering determination and natural talent. Hailing from a humble background in Punjab, Sandeep's childhood was marked by financial struggles and hard labor. However, his dream of an army career kept him motivated.Fate intervened when Sandeep first held an INSAS rifle at the Indian army's training ground in Fatehgarh. His exceptional marksmanship, producing a 2mm grouping at 300 meters, astounded instructors who recognized his innate ability. Thus began his career as a sports shooter.Despite a stop-start career, Sandeep's recent triumph at the Olympic Selection Trials (OST) has brought him within reach of his Olympic dream. His stunning scores in the 10m air rifle event propelled him to the top of the standings, edging out Olympic quota winners Arjun Babuta and Rudrankksh Patil.Sandeep's success has sparked controversy among his fellow shooters, who argue that his relative inexperience at the international level should disqualify him from Olympic selection. However, Sandeep remains confident in his abilities, citing his maturity and experience in pressure situations.His time spent guarding India's borders at the inhospitable Siachen Glacier has instilled in him a resilience that translates to his shooting performance. The challenges of breathing at high altitudes and the absence of enemy action forced him to focus on his inner strength.Despite a doping suspension and dismissal from the Army Marksmanship Unit, Sandeep's determination remained unwavering. With the support of his Commanding Officer, he resumed training and honed his skills. His consistent scores and match simulations in the lead-up to the OSTs paid off handsomely.Sandeep's Olympic aspirations extend beyond personal glory. He hopes to bring honor to his country and provide a better life for his family. His father, a laborer, has endured years of hardship, and Sandeep is eager to give him a comfortable retirement.

The Paris Olympics shooting selection trials witnessed a fierce battle for spots, with nine out of 16 quotas in rifle and pistol events changing hands. The onus was on quota winners to defend their places, but even world championship medallists like Rudrankksh Patil, Mehuli Ghosh, and Akhil Sheoran were swept aside.Rhythm Sangwan and Esha Singh swapped places in the 10m pistol and 25m pistol events, respectively. However, the biggest casualty was Rudrankksh, the 2022 world champion and only the second Indian air rifle shooter after Abhinav Bindra to win a world title. Mehuli and Sheoran, who had secured Olympic quotas with bronze medals at the world championships, also lost their places.The selection trials were held over four rounds in Delhi and Bhopal, with the shooters' three best scores considered. The bonus points for quota winners were reduced to level the playing field.The new policy was introduced after the debacle in Tokyo, where shooters who had performed well in the qualification cycle failed to deliver at the Olympics. The trials were designed to select the team based on current form.In men's 10m air rifle, Sandeep Singh emerged as the surprise topper, ahead of quota winner Arjun Babuta and Rudrankksh. In women's 10m air rifle, Tokyo Olympian Elavenil came to the fore, while Asian Games medallist Ramita Jindal grabbed the second place. In men's rifle 3P, Aishwary Pratap Tomar topped and sealed his place, beside Swapnil Kusale.The final call to pick the team remains with the NRAI selection committee, but it will be difficult to make any changes considering that the team has been selected through a policy. Paris will put the new policy to test, and India will hope that the Worlds medallists are not missed too much.