SLI 2026: Chennai, Bengaluru, AP emerge as franchise options; challenges added to spruce up format The inaugural edition of the Shooting League of India (SLI) seems to be finally taking shape.
Sportstar has learned that the National Rifle Association of India has received interest from prospective owners keen on operating city-based franchises from Chennai, Bengaluru, and Andhra Pradesh.
Delhi Knight Warriors, Mumbai X Calibres, and UP Prometheans are the three other sides that will complete the set.
Originally scheduled to begin last season, the league was first postponed to February 2026 and has now been pushed to the latter half of this year. However, the final dates are yet to be announced.
A challenging format
In a bid to expand its appeal beyond traditional shooting audiences, the SLI is working on a more spectator-friendly format. Several new rules are currently being drawn, potentially adding innovative rounds such as ‘Distraction’ and ‘Brave the Elements.’
It is understood that the ‘Distraction’ round will feature loud music and shifting lights, designed to challenge air rifle shooters’ concentration. Meanwhile, ‘Brave the Elements’ will test the resilience of shotgun wielders as they compete under simulated crosswinds and rain.
“We are exploring several format innovations that will test an athlete’s focus in high-pressure, cinematic settings. While these concepts are still being refined for our 2026 launch, the goal is to combine the precision of world-class shooting with data-led storytelling and enhanced visuals,” NRAI president Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo said.
The league is also planning to introduce a wide spectrum of technological enhancements—including but not limited to live data-driven graphics, immersive camera angles featuring a POV perspective, clay-tracer technology, active-lane illumination, real-time heart-rate trackers, and gamified visual elements.
To further improve accessibility for viewers, we will present scoring in a simplified, non-decimal format on digital screens that will audiovisually depict targets getting hit.
Published on Apr 10, 2026
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The inaugural edition of the Shooting League of India (SLI) seems to be finally taking shape.
Sportstar has learned that the National Rifle Association of India has received interest from prospective owners keen on operating city-based franchises from Chennai, Bengaluru, and Andhra Pradesh.
Delhi Knight Warriors, Mumbai X Calibres, and UP Prometheans are the three other sides that will complete the set.
Originally scheduled to begin last season, the league was first postponed to February 2026 and has now been pushed to the latter half of this year. However, the final dates are yet to be announced.
A challenging format
In a bid to expand its appeal beyond traditional shooting audiences, the SLI is working on a more spectator-friendly format. Several new rules are currently being drawn, potentially adding innovative rounds such as ‘Distraction’ and ‘Brave the Elements.’
It is understood that the ‘Distraction’ round will feature loud music and shifting lights, designed to challenge air rifle shooters’ concentration. Meanwhile, ‘Brave the Elements’ will test the resilience of shotgun wielders as they compete under simulated crosswinds and rain.
“We are exploring several format innovations that will test an athlete’s focus in high-pressure, cinematic settings. While these concepts are still being refined for our 2026 launch, the goal is to combine the precision of world-class shooting with data-led storytelling and enhanced visuals,” NRAI president Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo said.
The league is also planning to introduce a wide spectrum of technological enhancements—including but not limited to live data-driven graphics, immersive camera angles featuring a POV perspective, clay-tracer technology, active-lane illumination, real-time heart-rate trackers, and gamified visual elements.
To further improve accessibility for viewers, we will present scoring in a simplified, non-decimal format on digital screens that will audiovisually depict targets getting hit.
Published on Apr 10, 2026
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