The 2025 ISSF World Cup in Buenos Aires, Argentina, marks the beginning of a crucial season for Indian shooters as they prepare to compete against the best in the world.
With a strong 43-member squad, India has the largest delegation at the tournament, followed closely by China with 40 athletes. The event, scheduled to begin on April 3, will witness participation from 410 shooters representing 45 nations, competing across 15 medal events at the Tiro Federal Argentino de Buenos Aires shooting range.
A Star-Studded Competition Awaits
This year’s ISSF World Cup is set to be highly competitive, with five individual Olympic gold medalists from the Paris 2024 Games in action.
Among them are China’s Sheng Lihao and Xie Yu, Switzerland’s Chiara Leone, Guatemala’s Adriana Ruano, and Chile’s Francisca Crovetto. Also competing are Paris 2024 mixed team gold medalists Zorana Arunovic of Serbia and Damir Mikec, ensuring a world-class field in both individual and mixed team events.
Indian Contingent: A Powerhouse of Talent
India has sent a formidable squad, with 35 of its 43 shooters competing in the 12 individual and three mixed team events. The first batch of 22 shooters, along with 13 support staff, has already reached Buenos Aires, gearing up for a challenging competition.
Leading the Indian charge is two-time Olympic bronze medalist Manu Bhaker, the only Indian shooter competing in two individual events—10m air pistol and 25m pistol—along with the mixed team event.
Saurabh Chaudhary, a Youth Olympics and junior world champion, also returns to the international stage after winning the national trials in January with a record-breaking score. Other key members of the squad include Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Anish Bhanwala, Vijayveer Sidhu, Esha Singh, Sift Kaur Samra, Arjun Babuta, and Prithviraj Tondaiman.
The Absence of Key Olympians
Notably, some of India’s Paris 2024 Olympic medalists will not be competing in Buenos Aires. Sarabjot Singh, who won a bronze medal in the mixed team 10m air pistol event alongside Manu Bhaker, is missing from the squad.
Similarly, Swapnil Kusale, who won a bronze in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event in Paris, will also not be participating in the Buenos Aires edition of the World Cup.
Event Highlights and Medal Contenders
India’s top medal hopes lie with Manu Bhaker, who will face strong competition in the 10m air pistol event from Germany’s Doreen Vennekamp, Hungary’s Veronika Major, and Chinese shooters Li Xue and Jiang Ranxin. In the 25m pistol event, she will again compete against Veronika Major, along with world record holder Zorana Arunovic of Serbia.
In the rifle events, Arjun Babuta will be a key contender in the men’s 10m air rifle, where he will face Hungary’s Istvan Peni and Olympic champion Sheng Lihao. In women’s 10m air rifle, Swiss Olympic bronze medalist Audrey Gogniat, China’s Han Jiayu, and Kazakhstan’s Alexandra Le are expected to be strong competitors.
In the shotgun category, Anant Naruka will be India’s top hope in men’s skeet, where he will face Italy’s Gabriele Rossetti and Olympic bronze medalist Lee Meng-Yuan from Chinese Taipei. In men’s trap, India’s Prithviraj Tondaiman will be up against a tough field that includes Australian James Willett, Croatia’s Giovanni Cernogoraz, and Guatemala’s Olympic bronze medalist Jean Brol Cardenas.
Latin American Representation and Host Nation’s Hopes
The ISSF World Cup will also see strong representation from Latin America, with Guatemalan Adriana Ruano and Chilean Francisca Crovetto leading the charge in women’s trap and skeet, respectively.
Argentina, the host nation, has entered a 38-member squad, with Federico Gil in men’s skeet being their best hope for a medal. The Pan American Games silver medalist and multiple-time World Cup silver medalist will be eager to claim his first ISSF World Cup gold since 2016.
Indian Squad for ISSF World Cup 2025 Buenos Aires
Men
• 10m Air Rifle: Rudrankksh Patil, Arjun Babuta, Hriday Hazarika, Divyansh Singh Panwar, Kiran Ankush Jadhav, Aakash Bhardwaj
• 50m Rifle 3 Positions: Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Chain Singh, Niraj Kumar
• 10m Air Pistol: Saurabh Chaudhary, Ravinder Singh, Varun Tomar, Amit Sharma
• 25m Rapid Fire Pistol: Anish Bhanwala, Vijayveer Sidhu, Gurpreet Singh
• Trap: Lakshay Sheoran, Prithviraj Tondaiman, Zoravar Singh Sandhu
• Skeet: Bhavtegh Singh Gill, Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Gurjoat Khangura
Women
• 10m Air Rifle: Arya Borse, Narmada Nithin, Sonam Maskar, Elavenil Valarivan
• 50m Rifle 3 Positions: Ashi Chouksey, Shriyanka Sadangi, Sift Kaur Samra, Nischal, Manini Kaushik
• 10m Air Pistol: Suruchi Phogat, Manu Bhaker, Sainyam, Surbhi Rao
• 25m Sports Pistol: Manu Bhaker, Simranpreet Kaur Brar, Esha Singh
• Trap: Neeru, Pragati Dubey, Bhavya Tripathi
• Skeet: Raiza Dhillon, Ganemat Sekhon, Darshna Rathore
Looking Ahead: A Crucial Season Opener
The ISSF World Cup in Buenos Aires is not just the first major international event of the year but also an important test for shooters as they prepare for the 2025 season. The second ISSF World Cup will be held in Lima, Peru, from April 13 to 22, providing another opportunity for shooters to showcase their skills.
With a strong squad and several medal contenders, India will be looking to make a significant impact in Buenos Aires. However, with Olympic champions, seasoned veterans, and emerging stars in the mix, the competition will be fierce. Indian shooters will need to be at their absolute best to clinch podium finishes and set the tone for a successful 2025 season.
