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#NRAI #president #Shooting #League #India #success">NRAI president: Will make sure Shooting League of India happens and is a success The much-vaunted Shooting League of India may have been repeatedly delayed but National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) president Kalikesh Singh Deo is insistent that it would be held sooner than later.
“There is a challenge for every sport today on how to make it more commercially marketable, more television and viewer friendly and attract more fans. There may be a delay in the franchise-based league, first of its kind in the world, but we will not tolerate failure. We will make sure the SLI happens and is a success,” Deo said on the sidelines of an event to mark the 75th anniversary of the National Rifle Association of India.
The NRAI also unveiled a special commemorative logo and launched a mobile application for athlete management including shooters registration and issuing certificates among others. Deo also announced a nationwide grassroots initiative to bring more youngsters into shooting. “Our vision is to make the sport more accessible, aspirational and engaging for the next generation. We plan to expose 7.5 lakh youth to shooting before the next Olympics through a hands-on 10-shot experience,” he added.
Sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya stressed on the need to identify and promote talent to make India the top shooting nation in the world and be among the top-five sporting countries in the next 10 years. The event also included several past and present shooters including Samresh Jung, Ronjan Sodhi, Zoravar Singh Sandhu, Akhil Sheoran and Manu Bhaker among others. Manu, whose international performances since her double-medal win at the Paris Olympics include a 10m air pistol World Cup silver last year and a 25m pistol silver at the Asian Championships this year, was confident of a good outing at the upcoming Asian Games.
“The major competitions this year are definitely the Asian Games and the World Championships, looking forward to them. As for preparations for the same, me and my coach sat down sometime back to prepare a comprehensive plan on what to do and how to train. I feel we have things sorted, now just need to work harder,” the 24-year-old said.
Published on Apr 27, 2026
The much-vaunted Shooting League of India may have been repeatedly delayed but National Rifle Association…
Sports news
#Manu #Bhakers #confidence #surges #Olympic #qualification #cycle #nears">Manu Bhaker’s confidence surges as Olympic qualification cycle nears
India’s double Olympic medallist shooter Manu Bhaker is brimming with confidence ahead of the new season, determined to reignite her competitive spark after a quiet spell following her Paris Olympics glory.
With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics qualification cycle kicking off this year, Manu has her sights firmly set on the Asian Games and the World Championships—targets she believes will restore the competitive edge that powered her to two bronze medals at the 2024 Olympics.
“We have the Asian Games (in Japan) and the World Championships coming up at the end of this year, so definitely we are looking forward to the two major competitions,” said the 24-year-old pistol ace on the sidelines of an event, marking 75 years of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) on Monday.
“So, the preparations which me and my coach we have, we sat down sometime back and we planned what are the (upcoming) competitions and what is the preparedness. I feel we have all the things sorted and hopefully we will do very well,” added the Jhajjar shooter who has endured a relatively quiet spell since her 2024 Paris success, managing only a 10m air pistol World Cup silver last year and a 25m pistol silver at the Asian Championships in New Delhi this year.
Manu welcomed the return of shooting to the programme at the 2030 Commonwealth Games in India after the sport was left out of both the 2022 edition in Birmingham and the upcoming Games in Glasgow.
“My first breakthrough was in the Commonwealth Games that was in 2018 Australia (Gold Coast). It is sad (that it was not part of the CWG curriculum for two successive editions), but at the same time I am also looking forward to the 2030 Games.
“We will be hosting the Commonwealth Games so I am looking forward. I am sure India will do great,” she added.
Manu Bhaker also spoke about her personal growth, revealing a deeper spiritual side that took shape around the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“Yes, I am a very spiritual person. That journey began around the time of the Olympics, and I’m really happy to be continuing on that path.”
Published on Apr 27, 2026
India’s double Olympic medallist shooter Manu Bhaker is brimming with confidence ahead of the new season, determined to reignite her competitive spark after a quiet spell following her Paris Olympics glory.
With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics qualification cycle kicking off this year, Manu has her sights firmly set on the Asian Games and the World Championships—targets she believes will restore the competitive edge that powered her to two bronze medals at the 2024 Olympics.
“We have the Asian Games (in Japan) and the World Championships coming up at the end of this year, so definitely we are looking forward to the two major competitions,” said the 24-year-old pistol ace on the sidelines of an event, marking 75 years of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) on Monday.
“So, the preparations which me and my coach we have, we sat down sometime back and we planned what are the (upcoming) competitions and what is the preparedness. I feel we have all the things sorted and hopefully we will do very well,” added the Jhajjar shooter who has endured a relatively quiet spell since her 2024 Paris success, managing only a 10m air pistol World Cup silver last year and a 25m pistol silver at the Asian Championships in New Delhi this year.
Manu welcomed the return of shooting to the programme at the 2030 Commonwealth Games in India after the sport was left out of both the 2022 edition in Birmingham and the upcoming Games in Glasgow.
“My first breakthrough was in the Commonwealth Games that was in 2018 Australia (Gold Coast). It is sad (that it was not part of the CWG curriculum for two successive editions), but at the same time I am also looking forward to the 2030 Games.
“We will be hosting the Commonwealth Games so I am looking forward. I am sure India will do great,” she added.
Manu Bhaker also spoke about her personal growth, revealing a deeper spiritual side that took shape around the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“Yes, I am a very spiritual person. That journey began around the time of the Olympics, and I’m really happy to be continuing on that path.”
Published on Apr 27, 2026
India’s double Olympic medallist shooter Manu Bhaker is brimming with confidence ahead of the new…