Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly: and trap shooter Shreyasi Singh was included in the final 21-member Indian shooting squad for the Paris Olympics on June 21. The list was declared after the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) approved a quota swap.
Shreyasi, a 32-year-old trap shooter involved in politics with the BJP and serves as a representative for the Jamui constituency in the Bihar Assembly, will compete in the women’s trap event alongside Rajeshwari Kumari.
Following ISSF’s approval to exchange a quota spot, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) confirmed the development, paving the way for Shreyasi’s inclusion in the team.
As a result of Manu Bhaker’s achievements in both air pistol and sports pistol events, a quota place was reassigned to a female trap shooter, prompting this decision.
NRAI’s secretary general, stated, “We had requested the ISSF to change one quota place from 10m air pistol women to trap women and have received correspondence from them that it has been accepted.
“As a result, Shreyasi Singh has now been added to the original list of 20 names published and we will have a full quota of two starts in the women’s trap event.”
The team now comprises eight members in rifle disciplines, seven in pistol categories, and six in the shotgun discipline.
Considering mixed events, the team will have 28 opportunities to compete at the upcoming Paris Olympics scheduled from July 26 to August 11.
The last time Indian shooters won Olympic medals was during the 2012 London Games when Vijay Kumar took silver and Gagan Narang secured bronze, following Abhinav Bindra’s historic gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
