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The Hindu
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
ISSF proposes changes to shooting gear to tackle ‘technical doping,' looks to reset rifle world records in 2026
The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) may take a re-look at world records in rifle events in 2026, having proposed a host of changes to a shooter's existing clothing during a technical clothing workshop in June in Munich. In a fresh communication addressed to all national federations on Monday, Alessandro Nicotra di San Giacomo, the ISSF secretary general, wrote, '... current manufactured rifle jackets, trousers, and shoes will still be able to be used by athletes from 2026 onward, although some manipulation and adaptation may well be required to meet ISSF Rules and Regulations (a fresh amendment is to be released on January 1 next year).' The workshop was held owing to increasing pressure from the ISSF leadership and executive committee to find solutions for perceived 'technical doping,' which saw modern rifle shooters seemingly gaining undue advantage owing to the stability being provided by specialised suits that were becoming stiffer and thicker by the day. Once these changes are brought into practice, world records in rifle events will understandably be reset. How the ISSF plans on doing it, though, is still a mystery. Performance enhancers The said clothing has helped rifle wielders register scores register scores previously unheard of. The standing world records in qualification rounds of 10m air rifle have presently touched 637.9 for both men (Sheng Lihao, June 2024) and women (Wang Zifei, June 2025). Ahead of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, the marks were at 633.5 and 634, respectively. At the Paris Olympics, the cut-off scores to make the eight-athlete finals were 629.8 for men and 631.3 for women. In Tokyo, four years ago, the marks were 629.2 for men and 628.5 for women. China's Sheng Lihao holds the world record for men in 10m air rifle, at 637.9, which is significantly more than the cut-off scores for eight-athlete finals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. | Photo Credit: AP During the 2016 Olympics, where decimal scoring was introduced, the last men's finalist qualified with a score of 625.5. Although women used to shoot only four series back then, a simple projection would suggest that the cutoff in a six-series event could have been around 623.9. ALSO READ: LA 2028 Olympics — India's medal prospects, major sports India can have podium finish in at Los Angeles With scores like that of 2021, the then eighth-placed shooter in 10m air rifle would have placed 13th or 14th in the men's event (based on the number of inner-10s) and 16th in the women's event at the last Summer Games. Apparel changes To help mitigate the problem, the ISSF has decided to alter certain specifications of shooting gear. The stiffness of the jacket in the double-layered area near the shoulder and arms must now be 3.0 mm in 30 seconds instead of the erstwhile 60 seconds. Elsewhere on the coat, only single-thickness canvas is allowed. A similar rule applies to the trousers—except for areas around the lumbar and lower-back regions, the canvas must be single-layered. The stiffness of the jacket in the double-layered area near the shoulder and arms must now be 3.0 mm in 30 seconds instead of the erstwhile 60 seconds. | Photo Credit: The Hindu/A. M. Faruqui Button overlap tolerance has now been increased by 10 mm to become 80 mm. This will make the jacket slightly looser, especially around the chest. Shoe flexibility tests during Equipment Control will also become more stringent. High rifle boots are now banned, and only open-ankle kicks will be allowed henceforth. To compensate for this, however, a cushioning roll of unlimited circumference can now be used during the kneeling position in the 50m 3P event. 'This would require more detailed thought after a period of assessing performance under these new conditions,' noted sport director Peter Underhill. Rising costs These alterations are set to get more bang for one's buck. For starters, it will definitely bring down production costs and, in turn, the retail price—something that has been raising concerns for a while now—in the future. After all, the price for premium versions of the jackets did go up to INR 1 lakh. 'The costs of this clothing are causing real concern for athletes and their gatekeepers at all levels. Costs were prohibitively high for international teams as well as grassroots shooters aspiring to (reach) elite level,' Underhill said. 'This endangered the growth, as well as the wider well-being, of the discipline. The position is just not sustainable in the future and risks reputational damage to the ISSF.' However, Nilesh Rane, former shooter and founder of Mumbai-based Capapie Sports, the largest global distributor of rifle apparel, believes otherwise. He said, 'I don't get it. The jackets range from INR 10,000-70,000. It depends on you which service you want to avail. If I want to go somewhere, I could choose to cover the distance on a two-wheeler or in a Maruti 800 car or maybe a BMW or Bugatti. It is completely my choice.' The alterations will definitely bring down production costs and, in turn, the retail price of the jackets—something that has been raising concerns for a while now—in the future. | Photo Credit: The Hindu/Ritu Raj Konwar Athletes supported by Nilesh won 14 medals in Paris. He added, 'You are talking about Olympic sports here and not some village sport or street cricket. You need to compare accordingly. Not everyone goes to the Olympics; it is the grandest stage. There are lower-priced jackets also. Why don't we talk about rifle costs then?' The rifle of a professional Olympic shooter may cost anywhere between INR 3-4 lakh, excluding taxes and added attachments. Penguin-walking Finally, the newly configured suits may also eradicate penguin-walking—another issue that has lately brought the sport into disrepute—once and for all. The athletes, clad in hardened suits, did not make for a good show when they waddled in during the introductions. While the ISSF understood the predicament of the athlete, the implementation of the new rules in 2026 will see the jury become stricter during athlete presentations, employing the yellow card more frequently for penguin-walking during finals. The athletes, clad in hardened suits, did not make for a good show when they waddled in during the introductions. | Photo Credit: The Hindu/Ritu Raj Konwar Despite everything, Nilesh believes the ISSF must have arrived at the decision after duly considering the welfare of the athletes. 'It is an Olympic sport. The walk should seem natural. But here is something that is restricting you. That is the reason they are talking like that, and they have come up with these options. The governing body must have brainstormed on this. They are doing it for the betterment of the sport,' he said. With all due respect, they have done it in a proper way. It is a big loss for the shooters, though, because they have to start again after shooting such high scores. It is a change, and everybody has to adapt to it.'
News18
6 days ago
- Sport
- News18
NRAI President Appointed Interim Chair Of ISSF Committee On E-Sports & E-Games
Last Updated: Kalikesh Narayan Singh De has been appointed Interim Chairperson of the ISSF Committee on E-Sports, E-Games, and Tech Innovations. The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) on Thursday announced that its president, Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, has been appointed as the Interim Chairperson of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Committee on E-Sports, E-Games, and Technological Innovations. The appointment was confirmed through a formal letter sent on Wednesday from the ISSF Headquarters in Munich, addressed to Singh Deo and signed by ISSF president Luciano Rossi and Secretary General Alessandro Nicotra di San Giacomo. The newly formed committee is a strategic initiative by the ISSF to explore and integrate emerging digital and technological trends such as virtual and augmented reality formats, e-shooting competitions, and innovations in judging and training technologies. Under Singh Deo's leadership, the NRAI has also sanctioned the inaugural edition of the Shooting League of India (SLI) with support from ISSF, aiming to promote shooting sports globally. The national governing body has allocated the window between November 20, 2025, and December 2, 2025, for the first edition of this highly anticipated league, which is expected to feature digital and technological innovations. Singh Deo's appointment comes at a time when India's shooting sport ecosystem is rapidly evolving, with younger athletes and coaches embracing technology in training, and fans engaging through digital platforms like never before. As the president of the NRAI, Singh Deo has championed multiple reforms to promote transparency, athlete-centric policies, and grassroots development. His leadership of the ISSF committee is expected to further India's contribution to global shooting sport innovation. The committee's mandate includes: Exploring the regulatory and competitive framework for E-shooting and E-gaming formats. Evaluating global best practices in technological innovation in shooting sport. Recommending pilot projects and digital platforms for broader fan engagement. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Shooting world shot by new rules: Single canvas jackets likely to lead to lighter rifles, loss in stability and emphasis on shooting position
Tired of near perfect shooting scores, and 'penguin walks' in high profile tournaments like the World Championships and Olympics in tightly wound together jackets raising eyebrows, the world body of shooting has proposed some radical changes. These intend to put the onus of technique back in the hands of shooters and their level of training, rather than the gear doing all the work for them. The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) has put forward these proposals after shooters started achieving the peak of scores possible in the sport. The proposal also hints at a rejig of the current world records, similar to how the sport of javelin underwent — and will start from the 2026 season, possibly to give manufacturers and shooters time to align with ISSF rules. The ISSF, in a report tabled by Sporting Director Peter Underhill noted that the way the sport was being presented due to the clothing of athletes was being discussed at 'the highest levels of IOC'. 'Currently, athletes being unable to walk properly in their sports clothing and the whole image of our athletes encased in suits of iron risks bringing the sport into disrepute,' the ISSF said on the 2025 Rifle Clothing Workshop document. If ratified, the change would be the biggest in the Olympic discipline since 2012 when the decimal point scoring system was introduced. The chief area of change proposed by the ISSF is towards the rifle jacket. Modern jackets are made of two layers of canvas all over, with button holes and straps that tightly bind together the body of the shooter in an ideal position — and keep that position consistent over the period of a competition. This kind of clothing was leading to what Indian national team rifle coach Deepali Deshpande described as 'technical doping'. 'They have not asked to reduce the thickness of the jacket. The new rules will have some effect on the back and shooter's stability. The scores will no longer go as high as they do currently,' said Deshpande to the Indian Express. 'As mentioned in the document, it's currently like technical doping. The only issue is that changing gear will cost athletes money.' Other than the issue of cost (the ISSF document mentions that current gear can be modified to adhere to these planned changes), the change in gear may likely upset the apple cart. Take the Indian case. A new generation of rifle shooters have emerged; domestic competition in India is as tough, if not tougher than the international stage. But the young lineup of shooters that have only known the double canvas gear, will now have to adjust to learning what the ideal state of their body should be during a competition – and then go through countless repetition cycles to fight for scores lower than what they usually expect. Those consistent 10.8s and 10.9s might be a relic of the past. 'A lot of the new shooters who have started with this kit will have a problem. They'll have to work hard on their fitness. Earlier shooters were making it to the Indian team within two-three years. They will have to really work hard to maintain their spot,' said Deshpande, who is the coach of Paris Olympics bronze medallist Swapnil Kusale. Stiffer jackets allowed shooters to use heavier rifles, which allowed more stability, which in turn led to higher scores. But these new rules would lead to changes across the board. Shooters like Arjun Babuta and Rudrankksh Patil, who use lighter rifles, may have to adjust, while shooters with heavier rifles might have to go for newer equipment altogether. 'By default, these rifles are heavy and there really isn't much that can be done in making them lighter. That way, it may be an expensive affair. Even rifle manufacturing companies will have to come up with something different,' said Deshpande. She also said that the old guard of Indian shooting might not be as affected. Anjum Moudgil, a former World Championship medallist and staple Olympian of the Indian shooting team continues to be one of the few shooters domestically who still wear a single canvas jacket. For Moudgil, sticking to her single layered jacket came from a place of wanting to be the best in her discipline, without the help of a stiff jacket putting her in ideal spots. 'I was never tempted to use double layered jackets because I knew it was the jacket that was helping athletes,' said Moudgil. 'Many coaches in the past have asked me to use these jackets but somewhere, being in this sport for so many years and not being dependent on the equipment but my body and my training, gave me a lot of confidence. I may not have shot high scores but I knew that I could be consistent. In warm weather the jacket can get loose but those factors don't affect me like other shooters,' added the 31-year-old Olympian. 2016 Rio Olympic gold medallist Virginia Thrasher welcomed the change and said that the move would bring technical expertise and positional knowledge back to the forefront of the sport. 'This will hopefully help athletes and coaches see the need for robust positions (rather than dangerous positions that shoot well). We will undoubtedly see changes in what a 'good' position is and those who are the most open to change will reap the rewards,' she said on her Instagram.
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Indian shooting gets ISSF coaching courses
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has signed a partnership with the ISSF Academy, the coaching wing of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), to host certified coaching courses in India. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in the Capital on Tuesday by the NRAI president Kalikesh Singh Deo and the director of ISSF Academy, Dr. Vesa Nissinen. The NRAI secretary-general Sultan Singh, the CEO of ISSF Academy, Karolina Nissinen, the director of NRAI Education Program, Pawankumar Singh and Olympian Mansher Singh, member of the ISSF Shotgun Coaches Committee, were also present to mark the significant step taken towards building a structured education system. The ISSF coaches education program, graded into four categories of Elite/International level, advanced, intermediate and introductory levels, is expected to strengthen the grassroots ecosystem of Indian shooting by developing a large pool of qualified coaches, equipped with modern techniques and global best practices. 'By embedding international standards into our coaching structure, we are not only elevating the quality of mentorship at the elite level but also investing in the long-term development of talent at the grassroots,' said Singh Deo. 'By bringing ISSF-Certified coaching education to India, we are contributing to the creation of a more robust and standardised coaching framework in one of the world's most dynamic shooting nations,' said Dr. Nissinen.
NDTV
13-07-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Lakshay Sheoran, Neeru Dhanda Fall Just Short Of Medal Rounds, India's Shooting World Cup Campaign Ends
India ended engagements at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Shotgun in Lonato, after the pair of Lakshay Sheoran (22,19,25) and Neeru Dhanda (25,24,25), despite shooting a perfect third series, fell short of the Trap Mixed Team medal rounds. They totalled 140 out of a possible 150 in the qualifying round to finish 10th among 54 pairs. The second Indian pair of Zoravar Singh Sandhu (21,23,24) and Preeti Rajak (23,24,23) combined for a tally of 138 to finish in 22nd spot. Four teams, Australia, Great Britain and both the Spanish teams topped the qualifications with identical tallies of 143. Indian pair of Kynan Chenai and Sabeera Haris had won a bronze in the Trap Mixed Team event at the previous Nicosia Shotgun World Cup. The event will be held for the first time in the Olympics at Los Angeles in 2028. On Saturday, National Games champion Neeru Dhanda reached a first-ever World Cup final to finish a creditable fourth in women's trap, on the penultimate day. Having taken the sixth and final qualifying spot by virtue of winning (2-1) a shoot-off over last year's New Delhi World Cup Final winner Alessia Iezzi (Italy), Neeru eventually went out due to a higher bib number. Australia's Laetisha Scanlan won gold with 45 hits. While Neeru continued from her brilliant fourth-place finish in the women's trap a day earlier to miss just one target out of her 75, Lakshay had a blip in the second series, where he missed six, which eventually cost a shot at a podium finish.
