Mixed Team Events Kick Off ISSF World Cup in Granada

The ISSF Rifle/Pistol World Cup in Granada is about to begin, featuring Indian shooters in mixed team events. With competitions in 10m Air Rifle and 10m Air Pistol, the event promises intense matchups against top global competitors, including reigning champions from China. As India tests its emerging talent, the stakes are high with upcoming world championships and the Asian Games on the horizon. Stay tuned for the thrilling action as these athletes aim for medals and Olympic qualification.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 6, 2026, 23:42 IST

Granada World Cup Launches with Mixed Team Competitions

The ISSF Rifle/Pistol World Cup is set to commence in Granada, with Indian shooters eager to make a strong impression as the mixed team events begin on Tuesday at the Las Gabias Shooting Range.

Event Schedule and Medal Contests

According to the official announcement, medals for the mixed team events in both the 10m Air Rifle and 10m Air Pistol categories will be contested tomorrow. The qualification round for the 10m Air Pistol mixed team will kick off at 12:45 IST, followed by the finals at 16:30 IST. The qualification for the 10m Air Rifle mixed team is scheduled to start at 15:45 IST, with finals taking place at 19:30 IST.

Pistol Event: Competitors to Watch

In the pistol category, reigning Asian Games champion Palak Gulia will team up with Mukesh Nelavalli, the 2024 Junior World Champion in 25m pistol. Additionally, 2025 World Cup Final silver medallist Sainyam will partner with Ujjawal Malik. They will face tough competition from elite shooters, including reigning Olympic and World champions. Notably, China, which missed the Asian Championships in New Delhi, has entered two formidable pairings for this season's opening event. The reigning mixed team world champions, Hu Kai and Yao Qianxun, along with Paris Olympics gold medallist Xie Yu and 21-year-old former Junior World Championship medallist Shen Yiyao, are expected to be significant contenders. Other notable pairings include Paris Olympics silver medallist Sevval Ilayda Tarhan and Yusuf Dikec from Turkey, Zorana Arunovic and Damir Mikec from Serbia, Veronika Major and Akos Karoly Nagy from Hungary, and Christian Reitz and Svenja Berge from Germany.

Rifle Event: Challenging the Best

In the 10m Air Rifle event, India will be represented by Sonam Uttam Maskar and Gajanan Shahdev Khandagale, along with Shruti and Arshdeep Singh. These young shooters will compete against the World Number 1s in both men's and women's categories, the reigning World Champions Sheng Lihao and Wang Zifei from China. Another strong Chinese duo, Ma Sihan and Zhang Qianying, will also be in contention. Other competitors for the medals include Jeanette Hegg Duestad and Jon-Hermann Hegg from Norway, current 10m Air Rifle men's World champion Maximilian Dallinger and Hannah Steffen-Dix from Germany, as well as Istavan Peni and Eszter Denes from Hungary.

India's Strategy: Testing Future Talent

Following the established selection policy, India has chosen shooters ranked between 4-6 in the national rankings. With the world championships approaching at the end of the year in Doha, which will award the first quota places for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, top competitors are eager to gauge their performance early in the season. This event also serves as a valuable opportunity for India to assess its depth in talent, especially with the Asian Games on the horizon.