India's Shooters Gear Up for LA 2028 Olympics at ISSF World Championship

India's Olympic Journey Begins in Doha

Doha [Qatar], November 2: The journey for Indian shooters towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics commenced at the ISSF World Championship Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun, which kicked off at the Lusail Shooting Complex on November 1. The medal events are scheduled to take place from November 3 to 13.

This championship marks the first qualification opportunity for the LA 2028 Games and is the most significant event in the qualification cycle, offering 36 Olympic quota spots—three for each of the 12 individual Olympic events. Notably, shooting did not provide any quota places at the recent Asian Games, making this the first chance for India to secure spots for Los Angeles. Each country can earn one quota per event, potentially allowing India to claim up to 12 spots, as stated in a press release from the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI).

India arrives in Doha with strong momentum, having secured 15 shooting medals at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, including six in shotgun events. Neeru Dhanda was a standout performer, clinching India’s first women’s trap individual gold, along with a mixed team gold and a team silver, while the skeet teams brought home three bronze medals.

Neeru leads a talented shotgun team that features Zoravar Singh Sandhu, a bronze medallist from the 2025 World Championship in trap, alongside Asian Games medallists Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Bhavtegh Singh Gill, Mairaj Ahmad Khan, Raiza Dhillon, and Parinaaz Dhaliwal in skeet.

On the pistol side, two-time Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker heads the squad, which includes Asian Games air pistol mixed team champions Suruchi and Kamaljeet. The rifle team is led by Elavenil Valarivan and Himanshu Dhillon, both of whom earned individual silver medals in Aichi-Nagoya. India has entered three shooters in every individual Olympic event and two pairs in each of the four mixed team events.

Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, President of the NRAI, expressed confidence in the team's preparation, stating, “Our training this season has been focused on this moment. The team has carried its momentum from the Asian Games into a dedicated national camp, and our shooters are sharp and ready for Doha. The quota places available here provide India with ample time to strategize for Los Angeles, and I believe this team will seize that opportunity.”

NRAI Secretary General Pawankumar Singh added, “Every athlete in this squad has trained to meet specific performance benchmarks. Our camp at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range was organized by discipline, allowing rifle, pistol, and shotgun shooters to have focused time with their coaches, guided by performance data. We are prepared to compete in all 16 of our events and to kick off the LA 2028 campaign strongly.”