Kusale and Sarabjot Singh to Lead India at ISSF World Cup in Cairo
Olympic bronze medallist Swapnil Kusale and Sarabjot Singh lead a 24-member Indian contingent for the ISSF World Cup in Egypt.
Olympic bronze medallist Swapnil Suresh Kusale and Paris 2024 medallist Sarabjot Singh are set to lead a powerhouse 24-member Indian contingent at the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol in Cairo, Egypt. The elite squad arrived in Cairo following a rigorous national training camp held at the Maharana Pratap Sports College in Dehradun.
Intensive Preparation in Dehradun
The Indian shooters underwent an intensive week-long camp from October 1 to October 7, 2026. During this period, the athletes focused on match simulations and fine-tuning their technical routines to ensure peak performance on the international stage. The mission in Cairo is ambitious, with India competing across eight individual Olympic disciplines and two mixed team events.
Men's Squad Breakdown
The men's contingent features a blend of seasoned veterans and rising stars:
- Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions: Spearheaded by Swapnil Suresh Kusale, alongside Akhil Sheoran and Adriyan Karmakar.
- Men's 10m Air Rifle: Led by silver medallist Arjun Babuta, with Deaflympics champion Dhanush Srikanth and Paarth Makhija.
- Men's 10m Air Pistol: Sarabjot Singh leads the line-up with Ajendra Singh Chauhan and Udhayveer Sidhu.
- Men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol: Vijayveer Sidhu leads the charge with Suraj Sharma and Ankur Goel.
Women's Squad Breakdown
The women's unit is anchored by some of the most decorated names in Indian shooting:
- Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions: Two-time Olympian Anjum Moudgil leads Ayushi Podder and Manini Kaushik.
- Women's 10m Air Rifle: Featuring silver medallist Arya Rajesh Borse, Khyati Chaudhary, and Ismita Bhowal.
- Women's 10m Air Pistol: Asian Games champion Palak competes alongside Muskan and Surbhi Rao.
- Women's 25m Sports Pistol: A formidable lineup including Rhythm Sangwan, former World Cup gold medallist Chinki Yadav, and Divya TS.
High-Stakes Mixed Team Events
Competitive firing is scheduled to begin on Saturday, October 10, 2026, immediately following technical meetings. The opening day will feature high-octane finals in the mixed team categories:
- 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team: Ajendra Singh Chauhan and Palak; Udhayveer Sidhu and Muskan.
- 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team: Paarth Makhija and Arya Rajesh Borse; Dhanush Srikanth and Khyati Chaudhary.
The tournament will continue with individual qualification rounds and finals across the 10m, 25m, and 50m ranges through October 15, 2026.