Watch: At Rio 2016, 12-member Indian shooting contingent aims for record medal haul

India is sending its biggest-ever shooting contingent to Rio Olympics 2016, with 12 shooters. The nation’s hopes of claiming a double-digit medal tally this year will largely depend on how the shooters perform. Shooting is India’s strongest discipline, with Jitu Rai leading the medal prospects. The team is also strengthened by the presence of two Olympic medallists — Abhinav Bindra and Gagan Narang — who know what it takes to succeed at the biggest sporting stage. The 390 shooters from across the world will fight for an overall 45 medals over nine men’s and six women’s events in the Brazilian coastal city.

The Indian contingent will be hoping to improve upon their London 2012 performance, in which they won two medals, and increase their haul to at least four this year.

India’s shooting squad:

Men:

Abhinav Bindra: 10m air rifle

Gagan Narang : 50m rifle 3 positions, 50m rifle prone, 10m air rifle

Jitu Rai : 50m pistol, 10m air pistol

Chain Singh : 50m rifle 3 positions, 50m rifle prone

Gurpreet Singh: 25m rapid fire pistol, 10m air pistol

Prakash Nanjappa: 50m pistol

Manavjit Singh Sandhu: Trap

Kynan Chenai: Trap

Mairaj Ahmad Khan : Skeet

Women:

Heena Sidhu : 10m air pistol, 25m pistol

Apurvi Chandela: 10m air rifle

Ayonika Paul : 10m air rifle

Event Dates: 6 to 14 August

Past Olympic Record:

Abhinav Bindra became the first Indian to win an individual gold medal at the Olympic Games at Beijing 2008 in the 10m air rifle event.

Rajyavardhan Rathore became the first Indian shooter to win a medal after he won silver at Athens 2004 in the double trap event.

India won two medals in shooting at London 2012 — Vijay Kumar won silver in the 25m rapid fire pistol event and Gagan Narang won a bronze in 10m air rifle.