NRAI launches India’s first franchise-based shooting league, expected to begin in March 2025
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), the governing body for shooting in the country, has taken a monumental step by launching India’s first-ever franchise-based shooting league, the Shooting League of India (SLI). The move aims to further popularize the sport, which has been India's most successful individual Olympic discipline in recent times.
The inaugural edition of the Shooting League of India is expected to take place in March 2025, following approvals from the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), the sport’s global authority.
NRAI President Kalikesh Narayana Singh Deo, who proposed the league, emphasized that this initiative was perfectly timed, especially given the recent surge in the sport's popularity after India's strong showing in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
“Shooting, particularly after the performance in the recent Paris Olympics has received a huge fillip in its popularity and we thought that this was the right moment to launch a league. We have seen how well organised franchise leagues have not only helped in popularising the sport even further, but most importantly have brought in new audiences and revenue for them and their athletes. We owe it to our athletes to make the sport self-sustainable," he said in a press release.
The NRAI’s aim with SLI is to showcase all 15 Olympic events in rifle, pistol, and shotgun disciplines.
“We want to have all 15 Olympic events as part of the SLI, but we will try to innovate and tweak some formats so as to make them more exciting to watch on telecast or livestream. We also want to have unique ownership and team composition, which will help in bringing in newer audiences and sponsors to the sport. More details will be shared soon," Kalikesh Narayana Singh Deo added.
However, recognizing the need to adapt the sport for broader television and streaming audiences, the NRAI has worked hard to chalk out a plan to tackle these issues.
“Shooting in its purest Olympic form and format is not considered television friendly however we have all deliberated upon it extensively and feel that we may have arrived at a winning formula. Let’s keep our fingers crossed as all is in the interest of the sport and its super athletes, who have brought glory to the country on global platforms consistently over the last few decades.” Kalikesh Narayana Singh Deo said.
NRAI keen to build on shooting's growing popularity in India
India's success in shooting has been noteworthy. In the recently concluded Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, shooting alone contributed three bronze medals to India's tally, accounting for half of the country's total Olympic medals.
This marked a historic first for Indian shooting, with three medals in one Olympic edition. Additionally, Manu Bhaker set a new standard by winning two medals at a single Olympic Games.
India's association with Olympic success in shooting began in 2008 when Abhinav Bindra won the country’s first individual Olympic gold medal at the Beijing Games.
With the launch of the Shooting League of India, the NRAI aims to capitalize on this momentum and continue to elevate the sport on both national and international stages.