NRAI launches ISSF Shotgun Referee Course in New Delhi, 3 nations participate
Synopsis
India is building its own bench of globally certified shotgun referees — a gap so acute that even domestic competitions have long relied on foreign officials. The NRAI's five-day ISSF course in New Delhi, drawing participants from three countries, is a structural fix as much as a training event, and signals India's ambition to become a regional officiating hub for shooting sports.
Key Takeaways
The ISSF Shotgun Referee Course commenced in New Delhi on 3 August 2026 , running through 7 August 2026 .
Officials from India , Saudi Arabia , and Sri Lanka are participating in the five-day programme.
The course is led by ISSF-nominated instructor Nooruddin Alyasi of Bahrain, assisted by Amar Jang Singh of India.
NRAI Secretary General Pawankumar Singh acknowledged India has long relied on foreign officials even for domestic shotgun competitions.
Successful participants will be eligible for the ISSF Shotgun Referee Licence , allowing them to officiate at ISSF-recognised events worldwide.
The initiative is part of NRAI 's long-term plan to build a self-reliant technical officiating workforce across all shooting disciplines.
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) on 3 August 2026 commenced a five-day ISSF Shotgun Referee Course in New Delhi, bringing together technical officials from India, Saudi Arabia, and Sri Lanka for internationally benchmarked certification training. The course, running through 7 August 2026, is designed to produce ISSF-licensed shotgun referees capable of officiating at global competitions.
Course Structure and Faculty
The programme is being conducted by Nooruddin Alyasi of Bahrain, an ISSF-nominated instructor, assisted by Amar Jang Singh of India. The curriculum blends classroom instruction with practical training, covering the latest ISSF Shotgun Rules, competition procedures, range operations, referee responsibilities, safety protocols, and decision-making in high-pressure match situations.
Participants who clear written and practical assessments will be eligible for the ISSF Shotgun Referee Licence, subject to fulfilling ISSF licensing requirements — a credential that permits officiating at ISSF-recognised competitions worldwide.
What the NRAI Said
Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, President, NRAI, called the initiative 'a pivotal step toward building a robust and self-reliant technical infrastructure in India,' adding that 'a strong pool of internationally certified match officials is just as critical to the growth of the sport as the development of our athletes.'
Pawankumar Singh, Secretary General, NRAI, acknowledged a longstanding gap: 'For many years, we have had a shortage of trained referees, and even for several domestic competitions, we had to rely on officials from outside the country.' He said the course would help develop referees capable of serving across grassroots, national, and international competitions. Singh also thanked the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) for extending institutional support to host the course in India.
The inaugural session was also attended by Rajiv Kumar Bhatia, Secretary, NRAI.
Why This Matters for Indian Shooting
India's shooting programme has produced Olympic and World Championship medallists in recent years, but the country has historically depended on foreign officials to conduct domestic shotgun competitions — a structural gap this course directly addresses. By building a domestic pool of ISSF-certified referees, the NRAI aims to reduce that dependency and raise the administrative quality of competitions at every level.
Notably, the participation of officials from Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka positions New Delhi as a regional hub for shooting sport development, aligning with broader efforts to grow the sport's footprint across South and West Asia.
What Happens Next
The course concludes on 7 August 2026 with written and practical assessments. Successful candidates will proceed through ISSF's licensing process before becoming eligible to officiate at international events. The NRAI has indicated this is part of a long-term strategy to strengthen India's technical officiating workforce across all shooting disciplines.
Point of View
Yet the administrative backbone — qualified referees — has remained an overlooked vulnerability. The NRAI's admission that domestic competitions have routinely depended on foreign officials is a candid acknowledgement of a structural deficit that should have been addressed earlier. This course is a step in the right direction, but a single five-day cohort will not close the gap overnight. The real test is whether NRAI institutionalises this as an annual or biennial programme rather than a one-off event, and whether the newly licensed referees are actually deployed at grassroots competitions where the talent pipeline begins.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ISSF Shotgun Referee Course being held in New Delhi?
It is a five-day certification programme organised by the NRAI in partnership with the ISSF, running from 3 to 7 August 2026 in New Delhi. The course trains technical officials in ISSF Shotgun Rules, competition procedures, safety protocols, and match officiating, with successful participants eligible for the ISSF Shotgun Referee Licence.
Which countries are participating in the NRAI's ISSF Shotgun Referee Course?
Officials from three countries — India, Saudi Arabia, and Sri Lanka — are participating in the course. Their inclusion underscores the programme's regional significance and New Delhi's role as a hub for shooting sport development in South and West Asia.
Who is conducting the ISSF Shotgun Referee Course in New Delhi?
The course is being conducted by Nooruddin Alyasi of Bahrain, an ISSF-nominated instructor, assisted by Amar Jang Singh of India. The NRAI's Secretary General Pawankumar Singh and Secretary Rajiv Kumar Bhatia attended the inaugural session.
What qualification will participants receive after completing the course?
Participants who pass the written and practical assessments will be eligible to obtain the ISSF Shotgun Referee Licence, subject to fulfilling ISSF's licensing requirements. This licence enables them to officiate at ISSF-recognised competitions around the world.
Why is NRAI focusing on developing shotgun referees in India?
According to NRAI Secretary General Pawankumar Singh, India has faced a shortage of trained shotgun referees for many years, forcing even domestic competitions to rely on officials from abroad. The course aims to build a domestic pool of internationally certified referees to support competitions at grassroots, national, and international levels.
