Niraj Kumar wins 50m rifle 3P bronze, seals LA 2028 Olympic quota for India
Synopsis
Two weeks after Swapnil Kusale's historic Paris bronze made the 50m rifle 3-position India's most storied shooting event, Niraj Kumar has now secured an LA 2028 quota in the same discipline. It's India's second shooting quota from Doha 2026 — and a signal that this event is becoming a reliable pipeline for Indian Olympic medals.
Key Takeaways
Niraj Kumar won bronze with 346.5 points at the ISSF World Championship Doha 2026 on 11 November 2026 .
The result secured India's second LA 2028 Olympic quota in shooting, in the men's 50m rifle 3-position .
India's first quota was earned by Jaypal Malviya in the men's 10m air pistol last week.
Gold went to AIN's Dmitrii Pimenov with a Junior World Record of 362.8 ; silver to Slovakia's Patrik Jany with 357.2 .
The quota place for Norway went to fourth-placed Jon-Hermann Hegg ( 335.9 ) after Jany was ineligible for a second quota.
The event mirrors Swapnil Kusale's historic Paris 2024 bronze — India's first Olympic medal in this discipline.
Niraj Kumar secured a Los Angeles 2028 Olympic quota place for India in the men's 50m rifle 3-position event after clinching bronze at the ISSF World Championship Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun in Doha on Wednesday, 11 November 2026. This is India's second shooting quota for the LA 2028 Games, adding to the one earned by Jaypal Malviya in the men's 10m air pistol last week.
How the Final Unfolded
Niraj recorded a total score of 346.5 in the final, finishing third behind Slovakia's Patrik Jany, who took silver with 357.2, and gold-medal winner Dmitrii Pimenov of AIN, who broke the Junior World Record with an outstanding 362.8. Pimenov built his lead methodically across the kneeling and prone phases before consolidating his advantage in the standing series.
India's other finalist, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, finished fifth with 323.7 points. Croatia's Petar Gorsa (313.0), France's Romain Aufrere (302.1), and Switzerland's Jan Lochbihler (300.8) rounded out the field.
How the Quota was Allocated
Because Patrik Jany had already secured a quota in the men's 10m air rifle, he was ineligible for a second quota place for Slovakia. As per ISSF rules, a National Olympic Committee (NOC) can hold only one quota per event — when an already-qualified athlete finishes in a qualifying position, the slot passes to the next eligible competitor. That beneficiary was Norway's Jon-Hermann Hegg, who had finished fourth with 335.9 points, earning Norway the third quota from the final. Pimenov secured the first quota through his gold, and Niraj Kumar claimed the second.
Historical Context for India
Niraj's quota carries added significance: it comes in the very event in which Swapnil Kusale won a historic bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics, becoming the first Indian shooter to claim an Olympic medal in the men's 50m rifle 3-position. India is now building a credible pipeline in this discipline heading into the Los Angeles cycle.
The ISSF World Championship Doha 2026 is distributing three Olympic quota places in each of the 12 individual events — six men's and six women's — across rifle, pistol, and shotgun disciplines. With two quotas already in hand, India's shooting contingent will look to add more in the remaining events.
What Comes Next
India's shooting federation will now focus on identifying and preparing the eventual Olympians who will use these quota spots for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The quota is awarded to the NOC, not the individual athlete, meaning national trials will determine who ultimately competes. With the ISSF championship still ongoing, further quota opportunities remain on the table.
Point of View
With Niraj now adding an Olympic quota in the same event. What is worth watching is whether the national federation can convert these NOC quotas into podium contenders by 2028, rather than simply presence at the Games. The quota allocation mechanism also highlights a structural quirk: an athlete performing at their peak in a second event can be bypassed entirely due to prior qualification, handing slots to lower-ranked competitors from other nations. India's selectors will need to manage this calendar strategically as more quotas become available in Doha.
NationPress
11 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Niraj Kumar secure an LA 2028 Olympic quota?
Niraj Kumar earned an Olympic quota for India by winning the bronze medal in the men's 50m rifle 3-position final at the ISSF World Championship Doha 2026 on 11 November 2026. His score of 346.5 placed him third, qualifying India for the Los Angeles 2028 Games in this event.
How many Olympic quotas has India won in shooting at Doha 2026?
India has secured two shooting quotas for LA 2028 from the ISSF World Championship Doha 2026. Jaypal Malviya won the first in the men's 10m air pistol, and Niraj Kumar added the second in the men's 50m rifle 3-position.
Why did Norway receive the third quota instead of Slovakia's Patrik Jany?
Patrik Jany of Slovakia had already earned a quota in the men's 10m air rifle, making him ineligible for a second quota for his NOC. Per ISSF rules, the place passed to the next eligible athlete, Norway's Jon-Hermann Hegg, who had finished fourth with 335.9 points.
What is the significance of this event for Indian shooting?
The men's 50m rifle 3-position is the event in which Swapnil Kusale won India's first-ever Olympic medal in this discipline — a bronze at Paris 2024. Niraj Kumar's quota in the same event signals India is building consistent depth here heading into the LA 2028 cycle.
Who won gold at the ISSF 2026 World Championship 50m rifle 3-position final?
AIN athlete Dmitrii Pimenov won the gold medal with a score of 362.8, breaking the Junior World Record in the process. He also secured a quota place for his NOC through the victory.
