Latest news with #ShootingIndiaLeague
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
New franchise-based shooting league to start in November, players say 'fun', ‘bonding with international players'
The announcement of a franchise based league in the sport of shooting has all the stakeholders buzzing with anticipation. While shooting is largely an individual sport, the Shooting India League will feature only mixed-team format across disciplines and not individual events in a bid to make the event more audience-friendly. There is no clarity about the team owners and the roster of international players, as yet. 'We are expecting more international players given the league has got a dedicated window in the international shooting calendar of the ISSF. The details of team owners and international players will be revealed by early July,' an official close to the developments told this newspaper. The NRAI President Kalikesh Singh Deo had told The Indian Express previously about the format of the tournament. 'We have decided that all six formats will be in mixed team formats, and the shooters will directly compete in the final. The reasoning behind the format is that it will take less time, reducing the pressure on the shooter, and it will also be easy and exciting for the audience. Apart from the shooters and the audience, the format will make it interesting on how teams are picked.' The format is already popular among the Indian shooters with the young players excited to perform against the world professionals while the experienced ones are looking at it as a deserved break from the long and hectic international season. 'I see it as a fun part of the game. This idea of league was there for years, when I was a young player. But it has become reality now and this is the right time. Shooting in India is growing and a franchise based league will bring more and more spectators to the sport,' experienced shooter Rahi Sanrobat told on the sidelines of the logo reveal event of the league. 'The format of the league is exciting and it will serve as a break for all the shooters who can enjoy the dynamics of a team sport. We are already discussing with others who will go to which team. I always wanted to compete with the boys and the mixed team format will allow us to do that,' Rahi added further. The Asian Games gold medallist Sift Kaur Samra is excited to bond with foreign athletes. 'I am very excited to see who the foreigners are. We usually compete against each other but here if they will be in our team, there will be friendships like how we see in team sports,' Sift told The Indian Express. 'Usually, there are no leagues in the individual sports. If there is a team Punjab, I would like to join it. The best part will be that if we perform well in the league, it will definitely help us in tournaments such as World Championships and World Cups,' Sift said. The league can be helpful for the young Indian players who are taking their initial steps in the international arena. One of the recent breakout stars, Suruchi Phogat, who recently won three gold medals at the ISSF World Cup believes that it will expose her to the process of elite athletes. 'While I practice with the Indian top shooters and observe them closely, the league will be an opportunity for me to learn from the top international stars and Olympic champions,'Suruchi said. The first season of the SLI will have a window between 20th November and 2nd December. The tournament will feature mixed team events in pistol (10m, 25m), rifle (10m, 50m 3 positions), and shotgun(Trap & Skeet), as decided by the NRAI Technical Committee. A total of six-eight teams will feature in the competition and will be divided into two pools in the league stage. The selected players will be grouped into four tiers – Elite Champions, World Elite, National Champions, and Junior & Youth Championships – to provide a blend of experienced and emerging talents.
Indian Express
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Shooting India League: NRAI plans for only mixed-team formats, making the sport more broadcast-friendly
The inaugural edition of Shooting India League will feature only mixed-team format across disciplines and not individual events in a bid to make the event more audience-friendly, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) have said. NRAI is set to launch the league between 20th November 2025 and 2nd December 2025. The franchise-based league will have eight teams divided into two pools of four teams in the league stage, which will take place between 21st November and 26th November, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stages. 'The idea is to make the sport of shooting more audience-friendly and broadcast-friendly. Currently, shooting is not broadcast-friendly. We plan to work out a way to capture more TV viewership,' Kalikesh Singh Deo, NRAI President, told The Indian Express. 'We will be working together with all the stakeholders, including broadcasters and franchise owners, to make the league attractive without losing the core visibility of the sport,' he added further. NRAI plans to keep the league in a mixed-team format across disciplines, eliminating the individual competitions. 'We have decided that all six formats will be in mixed team formats, and the shooters will directly compete in the final,' said Kalikesh. 'The reasoning behind the format is that it will take less time, reducing the pressure on the shooter, and it will also be easy and exciting for the audience. Apart from the shooters and the audience, the format will make it interesting on how teams are picked,' Kalikesh added. The league will feature mixed team events in Pistol (10M, 25M), Rifle (10M, 50M 3P), and Shotgun (Trap & Skeet), as per guidelines of the technical committee. The league has garnered significant interest from the global shooting community, with more than 35 international shooters registering for the event. 'When I was in Peru for the World Cup, a lot of international shooters and managers came up to me wanting to know more about the league. Prize money is one of the incentives for them to come and play here. We will have some notable names featuring in the league,' Kalikesh said. While there is no clarity on what the prize money is likely to be, Kalikesh said that it will be announced in due course. The players will be grouped into four tiers — Elite Champions, World Elite, National Champions, and Junior & Youth Championships — to balance experienced veterans and emerging talents. Franchise-based sporting leagues for individual sports have failed to make their mark on the Indian market apart from cricket and to some extent kabaddi, so far. So NRAI's challenge will be to succeed with the idea of projecting shooting as a team sport to the audience. When asked if there is a market for shooting as a team sport, Kalikesh said, 'We believe so, and it is important for any sport to keep trying out new things to stay successful in the long term. The thought of men and women shooting next to each other is something that makes the idea exciting. Another thing that makes it more exciting is finals are happening directly.'
