A 12-member Indian shotgun squad is all set to take part in the year’s second International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup in Almaty, Kazakhstan, beginning with the team arrivals on Saturday.
A total of 284 athletes, representing 42 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), are in the fray for the five Olympic events on the 10-day roster. Eight members of the Indian squad are also travelling to compete as RPO (ranking points only) shooters.
Competitions begin with the men’s and women’s skeet qualifiers on Monday, with the finals scheduled for the next day. The two trap finals are listed on May 9, with the fifth and last final, the trap mixed team, scheduled next Saturday.
READ: NRAI president: Will make sure Shooting League of India happens and is a success
The shotgun squad began its international engagements in Tangier, Morocco, in March, where the first World Cup stage was played.
Day one of competitions will feature three Indian Olympians: senior pros Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Anantjeet Singh Naruka in the men’s skeet and Raiza Dhillon in the women’s skeet. All three will be seen in international action for the first time this year.
Besides the all-conquering Italians, Indian shooters will be up against top shooters from strong shotgun nations like Finland, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Greece, Peru, and Qatar, among others.
Host Kazakhstan also has a quality squad, and there is strong representation from China and Russia, which entered as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN).
Published on May 01, 2026
