Indian Shooters Gear Up for ISSF World Championship with Preparatory Camp

Preparatory Camp for ISSF World Championship Begins

New Delhi, October 21: The Indian shooting team selected for the ISSF World Championship in Doha 2026 is set to commence a preparatory camp at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range starting October 22.

This camp will unite athletes from various disciplines, including rifle, pistol, and shotgun, as they intensify their training for the World Championship, which is scheduled to take place in Doha, Qatar, from November 1 to 14, 2026.

The training program in New Delhi is organized into phases based on the specific shooting disciplines. Athletes competing in the 10m Rifle and Pistol events, along with the Men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol and Skeet teams, will train from October 22 to 29. Meanwhile, the 50m Rifle and Women's 25m Pistol athletes will be in camp from October 22 to 31, and the Trap team will train from October 28 to November 4.

The 10m Air Rifle men's team includes Parth Rakesh Mane, Himanshu Dhillon, and Paarth Makhija, while the women's team features Shambhavi Kshirsagar, Sonam Uttam Maskar, and Elavenil Valarivan.

In the 10m Air Pistol category, the men's squad consists of Ravin Kumar, Jaypal Malviya, and Kamaljeet, while the women's team includes Sainyam, Suruchi, and Manu Bhaker.

The Skeet team is made up of Mairaj Ahmad Khan, Bhavtegh Singh Gill, and Anantjeet Singh Naruka for the men, and Parinaaz Dhaliwal, Ganemat Sekhon, and Raiza Dhillon for the women.

For the 50m Rifle, the men's team features Niraj Kumar, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, and Akhil Sheoran, while the women's squad includes Vidarsa K Vinod, Ashi Chouksey, and Anjum Moudgil.

The 25m Rapid Fire Pistol team comprises Suraj Sharma, Gurpreet Singh, and Bhavesh Shekhawat for the men, and Esha Singh, Manu Bhaker, and Divya T.S. for the women.

The Trap team will join the camp starting October 28, with Zoravar Singh Sandhu, Vivaan Kapoor, and Udaiveer Singh Jaijee representing the men, and Neeru, Manisha Keer, and Pragati Dubey for the women.

Dr. Pierre Beauchamp, High Performance Director of the NRAI, emphasized the importance of this camp, stating, "This preparatory phase is crucial for our athletes as they refine their skills ahead of the ISSF World Championship in Doha. We aim to collaborate closely with coaches to set clear performance benchmarks for each athlete, ensuring they are prepared for the finals at the highest level of international competition."

He further noted, "We will monitor qualification-to-final conversion and podium conversion rates, which are essential indicators of our readiness and competitiveness. As the Olympic qualification process for the Los Angeles 2028 Games begins at the World Championship, this camp is vital for ensuring our athletes are technically, physically, and mentally equipped to perform at their best."

This camp represents the final domestic preparation for the athletes before they head to Doha for the World Championship, which will feature top rifle, pistol, and shotgun competitors over two weeks. Additionally, the championships will kick off the Olympic qualification process for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, with 36 Olympic quota spots available throughout the event.

Indian Athletes for ISSF World Championship Preparatory Camp, New Delhi:

10m Rifle Men: Parth Rakesh Mane, Himanshu Dhillon, Paarth Makhija

10m Rifle Women: Shambhavi Kshirsagar, Sonam Uttam Maskar, Elavenil Valarivan

50m Rifle Men: Niraj Kumar, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Akhil Sheoran

50m Rifle Women: Vidarsa K Vinod, Ashi Chouksey, Anjum Moudgil

10m Pistol Men: Ravin Kumar, Jaypal Malviya, Kamaljeet

10m Pistol Women: Sainyam, Suruchi, Manu Bhaker

25m Pistol Men: Suraj Sharma, Gurpreet Singh, Bhavesh Shekhawat

25m Pistol Women: Esha Singh, Manu Bhaker, Divya T.S.

Skeet Men: Mairaj Ahmad Khan, Bhavtegh Singh Gill, Anantjeet Singh Naruka

Skeet Women: Ganemat Sekhon, Parinaaz Dhaliwal, Raiza Dhillon

Trap Men: Zoravar Singh Sandhu, Vivaan Kapoor, Udaiveer Singh Jaijee

Trap Women: Neeru, Manisha Keer, Pragati Dubey

Air Rifle Mixed Team: Parth Mane and Shambhavi Kshirsagar, Himanshu Dhillon and Sonam Uttam Maskar

Air Pistol Mixed Team: Ravin Kumar and Saniyam, Jaypal Malviya and Suruchi

Skeet Mixed Team: Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Raiza Dhillon, Bhavtegh Singh Gill and Ganemat Sekhon

Trap Mixed Team: Zoravar Singh Sandhu and Neeru, Vivaan Kapoor and Manisha Keer.