Pune: Indian Shooters Receive Walther’s Premium Rifles For Paris Quota Winners

Pune, 5th December 2023: Taking their mission of producing Olympic medallists ahead, the Gagan Narang Sports Promotion Foundation (GNSPF) and leading guns manufacturer, Walther, announced their support for Paris Games quota winner shooters on Tuesday.

Walther, through the GNSPF, gifted high-end 10m air rifles to Olympic quota winners Rudrankksh Patil and Mehuli Ghosh along with Paralympics quota hopeful Swaroop Unhalkar at an event held at Hotel Ramee Grand today. The cost of each rifle is Rs.3.75 Lakhs.

The support is part of GNSPF’s flagship program of supporting athletes for the Olympic Games. Walther, who has been supporting GNSPF for many years, showed their faith in the foundation’s initiative, yet again. Rudrankksh Patil, Mehuli Ghosh and Swaroop Unhalkar.

The press conference was addressed by London Games bronze medallist shooter Gagan Narang, who is also the Co-Founder of Gun for Glory Shooting Academy and Vice President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). Gagan Narang was joined by Bernhard Knobel, CEO – Carl Walther GmbH, Germany, Drager Bjorn Klaus – Director of Sales Carl Walther GmbH, Germany, Peter Sidi – high-performance rifle coach, former world champion and five times Olympian, and Pawan Singh – Joint Secretary of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), Judges Committee Member of the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) and the Co-Founder of Gun for Glory Shooting Academy.

“It is a moment of pride and satisfaction to see a company like Walther living the same dream as us. I personally have used Walther rifles to win medals at every possible level. To see the legendary company coming to support us in our endeavor to help other Indian shooters win medals at the Olympics is really a big motivation for all of us,” Narang said.

“Walther always ensures quality and trust. Their rifles are technically superior and technologically advanced, and I really wish that the rifles that are being given to the Paris quota holders will help them to win not just their place in the final team, but also clinch gold medals in their respective events at the Paris Games,” Narang added.

“Our association with India and Indian shooters goes back a long way. We, along with the GNSPF, want to see Indian shooters do well at every competition they participate in. It is our honor that top Indian shooters trust Walther rifles and are doing so well at the international level. India is a huge country with thousands of talented shooting athletes and Walther is the leading gun manufacturer in the world, so together, we can create many new champions,” said Bernhard Knobel.

Former World Champion and Gun For Glory shooter Rudrankksh Patil said that getting support from Walther at the right time will help him do even better in the months to come. “Shooting is a sport of precision and Walther has always ensured making their guns after getting feedback from the shooters across the world. I am glad to have got this support from them in the form of their latest rifle, which will help me do well ahead of the Paris Olympics,” he added.

Quota holder Mehuli Ghosh, who is preparing for her first Olympics said, “The first rifle that I saw, was a Walther. Since then, whatever scores I have shot or medals I have won, have come using Walther rifles. I am happy to have got the latest rifle from them.”

Swaroop Unhalkar, who is gearing up to win a quota place for the Paris Games, also thanked Gun For Glory Academy and Walther for their support. “It is heartening to see Gun For Glory, Pawan Singh and Gagan Narang sir doing so much for para-sport. I would like to thank them and Walther for their support as it will help me in my journey ahead,” he said.