Injured Bindra, Susha pull out of ISSF World Cup squad

New Delhi, Apr 22 (UNI) Battling injuries, ace shooters Abhinav Bindra and Sushma Rana have pulled out from the Indian squad for the upcoming ISSF World Cup schduled from April 25-May 3 in Brazil.

According to coach Sunny Thomas, Bindra is battling a back problem and hence had to pull out.

''He was a goo bet for the Olympic quota berths but his old injury worsened during the camp. Doctors have advised him two weeks' rest and he had to skip it,'' he said.

Sushma also pulled out citing injuries, he said even though he did not elaborate.

The coach said morale was high in the team after the show in Melbourne Commonwealth Games and said he was expecting good result from the markswoman.

''Sushma won't be there, but we have some good shooters in Tejaswini Sawant, Avneet Kaur Sidhu and Kuheli Ganguly. All of them are in good nick and they would be eyeing the quota places in Brazil,'' he said.

''Tejaswini in fact missed the Olympic berth by a whisker in China and I hope she gets it in Brazil.'' The coach also informed that Anjali Bhagwat would be back in her pet 10m Air Rifle event in the ISSF World Cups in Munich and Milan.

''Anjali was in excellent form in the trials and she will be back in 10m Air Rifle team, along with Tejaswini and Avneet,''he said.

Meanwhile, Deepali Deshpande replaced Anuja Jung in the women's rifle 3 position team.

UNI AY DH PM1809