New Delhi, May 1: The 12-member Indian shotgun team is fully prepared to participate in the second International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup shotgun stage, taking place in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
This event will be held from May 2 to May 11, 2026. Over ten days, a total of 284 athletes representing 42 National Olympic Committees will compete in five Olympic events. Eight members of the Indian team will participate as RPO (Ranking Points Only) shooters.
The competition will kick off on Monday with the men’s and women’s skeet qualifiers, followed by the finals the next day. Two trap finals are scheduled for May 9, with the fifth and final final (trap mixed team) taking place on May 10, 2026.
The shotgun squad began its international competitions in March in Tangier, Morocco, where the first World Cup stage was held.
On the first day of the competition, three Indian Olympians—senior pro Mairaj Ahmed Khan and Anantjeet Singh Naruka in men’s skeet, along with Raiza Dhillon in women’s skeet—will make their international appearances for the year.
In addition to facing strong Italian competitors, Indian shooters will also compete against top marksmen from shotgun powerhouses such as Finland, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Greece, Peru, and Qatar.
The host nation, Kazakhstan, boasts a strong squad as well. With significant representation from China and Russia, including Russia as a neutral athlete, Indian shooters will need to deliver their best performances to reach the podium.
Indian marksmen have shown impressive results on international platforms recently, and expectations are high for a stellar performance in Almaty.
Leave a Comment