Tangier (Morocco), March 26 Indian shotgun shooters will face a tough challenge as they compete against a strong field of participants on the first day of the season-opening ISSF Shotgun World Cup here on Friday.
The event will feature some of the world's most accomplished athletes competing in a strong field at the Club Tangérois de Tir.
The competition will begin with 75 targets for both men and women, followed by 50 targets and the finals on Sunday.
A highly competitive field consisting of Olympic and world champions has entered the competition.
India has entered the maximum quota of six athletes in both men and women, along with two shooters each in both men and women, who will be competing for ranking points.
The women's field is packed with stars, including reigning Olympic champion Francisca Crovetto Chadid of Chile, who is returning to international competition after maternity leave, along with world champion Samantha Simonton of the United States.
Diana Bacosi of Italy, a double Olympic and double world champion, also participates, as do other shooters such as Assem Orynbay of Kazakhstan, a world championship medallist.
The Indian team comprises Olympian Maheshwari Chauhan and siblings Darshana Rathore and Yashasvi Rathore.
Yashasvi, the youngest of the two, finished second in the 68th National Championships and also won a silver medal in the junior category at the Asian Championships in Shymkent last year.
Areeba Khan and Mansi Raghuwanshi will also be competing, but only for ranking points.
In the men's event, a field of 82 strong has entered the competition, with Emil Kjeldgaard Petersen of Denmark, the 2025 World Championship bronze medallist, headlining the list.
Last season's World Cup final winner Christian Elliot of the USA, Italy's double Olympic champion Gabriele Rossetti, and Jesper Hansen of Denmark, who also won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, are among the top names in the competition.
Representing Canada for the first time will be Angad Vir Singh Bajwa, who represented India until last year.
India's hopes rest on experienced shooters Man Singh and Parampal Singh Guron, along with Jyotiraditya Singh Sisodiya, who is making his senior international debut.
Man, a former Asian champion, is returning to the team after three years, while Parampal last represented India in 2022.
Jyotiraditya won a bronze medal in the junior category at the Shymkent Asian Championships last year and is eager to make his senior debut for India.
Sukhbir Singh Harika and junior national champion Harmehar Singh Lally will also be competing for ranking points.
With Olympic champions, world champions, experienced finalists, and emerging talents all competing, the tournament promises a compelling start to the season.
As athletes begin their journey towards Olympic qualification pathways, all eyes will be on Tangier to see who sets the early benchmark for the year ahead.