Kynan Chenai to spearhead Indian shotgun challenge in season-opener in Morocco

Olympians Maheshwari Chauhan, Kynan Chenai and Prithviraj Tondaiman will spearhead India’s challenge at the ISSF World Cup 2026 in Tangier, Morocco, starting on Thursday.

The Tangier shooting meet will be the first of the four ISSF World Cups for shotgun events in 2026.

Maheshwari Chauhan, who came agonisingly close to a medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics in the mixed skeet alongside Anantjeet Singh Naruka, will spearhead India’s campaign in the women’s skeet. Naruka, however, is not part of this meet.

In the men’s trap, India will field a seasoned line-up, which includes 2025 Asian Championships silver medallist Bhowneesh Mendiratta, along with Olympians Prithviraj Tondaiman and Kynan Chenai.

The women’s trap team features Asian Games team silver medallist Rajeshwari Kumari and Asian Championships bronze medallist Aashima Ahlawat among the key contenders.

The Tangier leg will feature 271 shooters from 43 National Olympic Committees (NOCs). Winners of individual events will qualify for the ISSF World Cup Final, set to be held in Rome, Italy, in December.

Indian shooting squad:

Men’s skeet: Parampal Singh Guron, Sukhbir Singh Harika, Harmehar Singh Lally, Man Singh, Jyotiraditya Singh Sisodiya.

Men’s trap: Kynan Chenai, Sharan Susheel Gyanchand, Bhowneesh Mendiratta, Mohammad Asad Sultan, Prithviraj Tondaiman.

Women’s trap: Aashima Ahlawat, Kirti Gupta, Rajeshwari Kumari, Preeti Rajak, Shreshtha Sisodiya.

Women’s skeet: Maheshwari Chauhan, Areeba Khan, Mansi Raghuwanshi, Darshna Rathore, Yashasvi Rathore.

Mixed team trap: Kirti Gupta, Rajeshwari Kumari, Kynan Chenai, Prithviraj Tondaiman.