Sobo Giants Triumph in Inaugural Maharashtra Shooting League
Maharashtra Shooting League Concludes with Sobo Giants as Champions
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Pune, April 22: The inaugural Maharashtra Shooting League (SLM) has successfully concluded, with Sobo Giants emerging as the first champions.
In a closely contested Mixed Team final, Sobo Giants secured a convincing 17-7 victory over Palghar Golden Finger. Aamhi Punekar claimed third place after a narrow 16-14 win against Sangli Alpha Lions.
This league represents a significant step forward for the Shooting League of India (SLI), establishing a competitive framework for the sport.
Following the successful launch of the Shooting League of Karnataka earlier this year, the SLM becomes the second state-level league in India, paving the way for a more organized ecosystem for shooting nationwide.
These state leagues are crucial for the long-term vision of SLI, aiming to boost the sport's visibility and draw in a larger audience. By making shooting more engaging and relatable, they hope to promote the sport to a broader demographic.
The league brought together both emerging and seasoned shooters from across Maharashtra, focusing on participants from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. It demonstrated how a team-based format can bridge grassroots participation with elite performance.
By blending competition with entertainment, the SLM provided a platform that showcases talent and inspires ambition. This is vital as Indian shooting transitions towards a franchise-based ecosystem with SLI.
Anjali Bhagwat, a former World No. 1 and Olympian, remarked, "This format and experience will undoubtedly contribute to the development of the Shooting League of India. It is an excellent way to nurture talent and prepare shooters for the sport's demands, especially by exposing them to match pressure in front of a live audience."
Deepali Deshpande, a former Olympian and recipient of the Arjuna and Dronacharya Awards, expressed satisfaction with the collective effort from the Maharashtra Rifle Association, stating, "Seeing this come together so successfully in its first year is incredibly rewarding, and it gives us confidence to return even stronger next year."
Ronak Pandit, a notable shooter and coach, emphasized the importance of such leagues in making shooting more engaging and accessible. He stated, "The goal is to shift the perception of the sport from being purely technical to something more relatable. Maharashtra has a wealth of talent, and initiatives like this will only enhance that ecosystem further."
Pandit’s SLI team, Mumbai X Caliber, has a significant presence in the SLM, with co-owner Zahir Hawa serving as the Air Pistol Coach for the victorious Sobo Giants, highlighting the growing connections between state leagues and the national franchise system in SLI.
In addition to team achievements, the league recognized individual and squad excellence:
Best Rifle Shooter: Gojiri (Amravati Dhurandhar) – 55 hits
Best Pistol Shooter: Jaj (Sobo Giants) – 42 hits
Best Rifle Team: Amravati Dhurandhar – 89 total rifle hits
Best Pistol Team: Sobo Giants – 72 total pistol hits