Indian Shotgun Team Prepares for ISSF World Cup in Kazakhstan

The Indian shotgun team is preparing for the ISSF World Cup in Almaty, Kazakhstan, starting May 2, 2026. With 284 athletes from 42 countries participating, the competition promises to be intense. Indian Olympians Mairaj Ahmad Khan, Anantjeet Singh Naruka, and Raiza Dhillon will compete in their first international event of the year. Facing formidable opponents from Italy, Finland, and more, the Indian squad aims for podium finishes in this prestigious tournament. Stay tuned for updates on their performance and the competition schedule.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 1, 2026, 14:43 IST

Overview of the Upcoming ISSF World Cup

A 12-member Indian shotgun team is gearing up to participate in the second International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Shotgun stage of the year, set to commence in Almaty, Kazakhstan, with team arrivals scheduled for Saturday, May 2, 2026. This event will see 284 athletes from 42 national Olympic committees competing across five Olympic events over a span of ten days.

Competition Schedule

The competition kicks off with the men's and women's skeet qualifiers on Monday, May 4, 2026, followed by the finals the next day. The finals for the two trap events are slated for May 9, with the final event, the trap mixed team final, taking place on Saturday, May 10, 2026.

Indian Team and Competitors

The Indian shotgun squad commenced their international season in Tangier, Morocco, in March, where they participated in the first World Cup stage. On the opening day of the competition, three Indian Olympians will compete: senior athlete Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Anantjeet Singh Naruka in men's skeet, along with Raiza Dhillon in women's skeet. This will mark their first international appearance of the year.

The Indian shooters will face tough competition from renowned shotgun nations, including Italy, Finland, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Greece, Peru, and Qatar. The host nation, Kazakhstan, also boasts a strong team, while China and Russia will be represented by Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN), making it essential for Indian shooters to perform at their peak to secure podium finishes.