How India Is Channeling Its Shooting Legacy Into The World’s First League

India has secured 41 Olympic medals to date, with seven of those coming from shooting. At the last Olympics in Paris in 2024, the Indian contingent of 117 athletes bagged six medals — three of them in shooting alone. It’s no surprise then that India is now considered among the premier shooting nations in the world.

The point here is that shooting has slowly become one of India’s most reliable medal sources at the Games. And now, that long-standing connection has led to something unprecedented: the launch of the world’s first-ever shooting league, right here in India.

In an exclusive interview with 해외카지노, National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) president Kalikesh Singh Deo discussed everything you need to know about the upcoming Shooting League of India, its vision, structure, and what it means for the future of Indian shooting. So load and fire....

What is the Shooting League of India 2025?

Given the recognition the sport deserves and the immense love India has shown for shooting, a league of its own felt like "a natural next step", according to Deo. After all, it was shooting that gave India its first individual Olympic silver through Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore in Athens 2004, and its first individual Olympic gold thanks to Abhinav Bindra in Beijing 2008. But, how and why the league in 2025?

Much like how the Indian Premier League changed the face of cricket by bringing fans closer to the game, giving players a strong platform, and making the sport financially sustainable — the upcoming shooting league hopes to do the same for shooting.

Why now? Because after the 2024 Paris Olympics, where India dreamed of a double-digit medal haul but could not achieve it, shooting still delivered some unforgettable moments. Manu Bhaker made history, not just as the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting, but by becoming the first Indian shooter to win two medals at the same Games.

Then came Swapnil Kusale, who could only buy his first rifle after saving several months of salary from his job as a railway ticket collector. He clinched bronze in the men’s 50m 3 Positions, India’s first-ever medal in that event. And Sarabjot Singh, alongside Bhaker, snared bronze in the mixed team 10m air pistol. Since then, a wave of excitement has swept through the sport in the country, where other sports somehow remain in the shadow of cricket.

The Auction

It will follow the same franchise-based model and for the record, the first-ever shooting league is already attracting interest. The NRAI president said, “There is varied interest from high-quality potential franchises: some who already own multiple sports teams, and others purely passionate about shooting. If things continue on this track, we’ll be announcing the full details, including financials and franchise names, very soon. The league is set to roll out in November.”

Just imagine, what if IPL giants enter the fray? A shooting team named Mumbai Indians, or a Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad in the shooting league? Picture Olympic medallist Bhaker teaming up with Rohit Sharma at an MI pre-season camp to promote the league....I mean, we can manifest that, right? The crossover potential is massive, not just in terms of visibility, but in inspiring a new generation of fans and athletes. If IPL-style branding and athlete collaborations come into play, the Shooting League of India might just become the next big thing in Indian sport.

An auction-based team selection process will be implemented for the league. As for the shooters interested in the auction, Deo said there are already close to 95,000 registered shooters across the country. Now this may feel like a dent to the perception that shooting is an elite or inaccessible sport due to its cost. Overseas shooters will also be allowed to register for the auction.

“95,000 — that’s a staggering number for any sport, and it underlines why launching a professional league isn’t just timely, it’s essential. We need to channel this widespread enthusiasm into a structured format that not only builds elite talent but also brings shooting into mainstream conversation like other popular sports in India.”

Will it be broadcast live?

"Obviously," says Deo. The league will be telecast live and available for live streaming as well. “We intend to broadcast it both live and on OTT,” he confirmed. “The real objective isn’t just financial viability, it’s about turning our shooting stars into household names and creating a new kind of fan engagement.

“Shooting is as much a mental as it is a physical sport,” he added. “We need to let viewers feel what the shooter is going through — the nerves, the tension, or the calm just before pulling the trigger.”

The league is working closely with a dedicated team to enhance the storytelling around each athlete, ensuring fans connect not just with performances, but with personalities. "Talks are already underway with broadcasters and OTT platforms, with live streaming expected to be central."

When asked about how the shooting league plans to bridge the gap between grassroots talent and elite shooters, Deo explained the power of visibility. “When a sport becomes visible, it becomes aspirational,” he said.

Citing the surge in interest after medal-winning performances by stars like Bhaker, Singh and Kusale, he pointed out that many still don’t realize India’s first individual Olympic gold came through shooting.

“Seven Olympic medals in total, three just in the last edition. We have the talent, the passion, the technology, and now the opportunity. India is the best place to organize a league like this.”

Shooting Infrastructure In India

Speaking of the shooting ranges in India, Deo said they are popping up all over the nation.

“We’ve now got world‑class facilities in Delhi and Bhopal, plus nearly a dozen other venues ready to host national events,” the NRAI president stated.

Several new ranges have sprung up in places like Dehradun, Chennai, Kerala, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, and even Meghalaya has come on board after recently signing an agreement with the NRAI. The enthusiasm isn’t limited to big arenas, either for about 17,000 schools have already built their own small shooting ranges, and many more want to follow suit.

All of this growth, Deo claimed, signals a grassroots surge that could make shooting as familiar across India as perhaps cricket nets in a playground, one day.