Tokyo Olympics: India stands to gain as IOC approves updated shooting qualification system

The International Olympic Committee has approved the world shooting governing body’s updated qualification system for the Tokyo Olympics, which could see India add at least one more quota to the 15 secured so far.

India has so far earned a record number of quota places in the qualification cycle that began with the 2018 World Championship in Korea.

Indian shooters were primed for success at the Tokyo Games before the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic led to a one-year postponement.

The Games have been rescheduled for next summer and with it, a host of qualifying events’ schedule has also been rejigged.

“The allocation of the 12 quota places (one in each individual event) will be done based on the world ranking list of March 31, 2020 and points earned at one ISSF World Cup in Rifle/Pistol and one ISSF World Cup in Shotgun to be held in March-April of 2021,” the International Shooting Sport Federation said in a statement.

This, a National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) insider said, could help someone like Anish Bhanwala to secure a quota for himself in the 25m rapid-fire pistol, a category in which India won a silver through Vijay Kumar at the 2012 London Games.

“Anish was in the top 10 in the March 31 ranking and all the other shooters above him had already secured their quotas. So, he definitely has a chance. And his chances will only increase if he shoots a good score in the World Cup in March-April 2021,” the NRAI insider said.

The new deadline for Tokyo 2020 Qualification in shooting is June 6, 2021, according to the ISSF.