Sandeep Singh Shooter: All You Need to Know About His Background, Career, Family, Personal Life

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Sandeep Singh is a distinguished Indian 10m air rifle shooter from Faridkot, Punjab. He will compete in the men’s 10m air rifle event for India at the Paris 2024 Olympics. He is also a part of the 10m air rifle mixed team. The 28-year-old is regarded as one of the best 10m air rifle shooters.

During the trials conducted in Delhi and Bhopal, Sandeep participated based on his national and QORG rankings. He achieved remarkable qualification scores of 634.4, 632.6, 631.6, and 628.3 (out of a maximum of 654), with the last score being the lowest after he had nearly secured qualification with his first three scores.

This impressive performance allowed him to gain an advantage even without the additional bonus points.

Remarkably, his qualification scores were so exceptional that he led the rankings despite not finishing on the podium in any of the four events. He even outperformed established competitors like former world champion Rudrankksh Patil and Tokyo Olympian Divyansh Panwar.

Early Life and Education

Sandeep was born in the village of Behbal Khurd located in Faridkot, Punjab, where he faced significant challenges during his childhood. His father, Baljinder Singh, worked as a laborer and to help support their family's limited income, Sandeep often accompanied him to work from a young age.

Shooting Career

Sandeep began representing India in international competitions late last year and showcased exceptional performance, achieving a score of 633.4 in his most recent event at the Asian Championships earlier this year.

Sandeep holds the rank of Naib Subedar in the Indian Army, where he began his journey in shooting while stationed with the army in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, home to the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU). He would practice shooting at night after completing his daytime duties.

He has been stationed at the Siachen glacier, recognized as the highest battlefield in the world. Additionally, he faced a brief doping suspension during his career. After relocating from Mhow in 2021, Sandeep experienced a couple of years of limited intense practice and competition. However, he made a strong comeback in early 2023, representing India at the World Cup in Rio, which marked his sole international event outside the RPO (ranking points only) series.

Although he was included in the reserves squad for the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, he ultimately did not qualify for the event.