Strong Mittal Champions contingent to represent India in shooting at the 2012 Olympics

Abhinav Bindra, Ronjan Sodhi, Joydeep Karmakar and Heena Sidhu secure berths for the summer Olympics

New Delhi, February 19, 2012: Mittal Champions Heena Sidhu and Joydeep Karmakar today secured their berths for the upcoming 2012 London Olympics in the 10M Air Pistol Women and 50M Rifle Prone event respectively. With their inclusion into the Indian shooting contingent, the number of shooters from the Mittal Champions Trust stable adds up to four out of the 11 member Indian shooting contingent announced today by the Selection Committee of the NRAI. Abhinav Bindra and Ronjan Sodhi are the other two Mittal Champions in the 11 member shooting contingent for the 2012 London Olympics.

Heena secured the berth due to her consistent performance over the last one year for the 10 m Air Pistol category.

“It’s a very proud moment for me and I will put in my best efforts and put up a good show in the summer games”, said the elated Mittal Champion, Heena Sidhu post the announcement of the national squad.

Mittal Champion and world number 3, Ronjan Sodhi sealed his Olympic berth by the virtue of his first rank at the national trials held a few days back for the Double Trap event.

“I am extremely happy to represent India at the 2012 London Olympics and will put in my best foot forward”, said Ronjan post the announcement.

Mittal Champion and India’s first and only individual Olympic Gold medalist Abhinav Bindra had already secured his quota place for the London Olympics in the 10m air rifle event during the Shooting World Cup in Munich last year. Abhinav recently won the Gold medal at the Asian Shooting Championships in Doha early this year.

Eight Mittal Champions have so far qualified for the 2012 London Olympics inclusive of the four shooters. The other athletes who have qualified are Vikas Krishan Yadav in Boxing, Chekrovolu Swuro and Laishram Bombayala Devi for Archery and  Gurpreet Singh in Athletics.