Shooting Sport: India Set to Host ISSF Junior World Cup for the First Time in 2025
Click to start listening
New Delhi, Dec 21 (NationPress) India is poised to host the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Cup for the very first time in the latter half of 2025. The ISSF has granted the hosting rights for this prestigious junior international shooting competition for Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun to the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), which stands as a significant achievement for the nation in the realm of shooting sports.
This event will mark the third major ISSF-level competition to take place in India, following the senior World Cup held in Bhopal in 2023 and the season-ending ISSF World Cup Final earlier this year. This reinforces India's reputation as a prominent destination for shooting sports globally, as confirmed by the NRAI in a release on Saturday.
Upon receiving the official confirmation letter from the ISSF on Friday, NRAI President Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo expressed, “We had a productive executive committee meeting of the ISSF in Rome last month, where member federations and ISSF President Luciano Rossi praised India’s capability in hosting top-tier international shooting competitions and promoting the sport on a global scale.
“While we sensed this positive outcome earlier, the official confirmation has us excited and motivated to put forth our best efforts as always. We extend our gratitude to the Government of India and the Ministry of Sports for their unwavering support in our mission to advance the sport within the country,” he added.
K. Sultan Singh, Secretary General of the NRAI, provided further insights regarding the ISSF’s communication, stating, “The ISSF has requested us to propose two possible time slots: one in September-October and the other towards the end of October to early November. After our internal discussions, we will promptly communicate our choices to facilitate member federations’ preparations. We anticipate a gathering of the world’s top future champions and shooting stars for an exciting showdown in India, which we believe will significantly enhance grassroots engagement in the sport.”
This event will be the ninth high-level shooting championship hosted in India over the past decade, and it will be the inaugural ISSF Junior World Cup. Prior to this, India has successfully hosted various continental championships and six ISSF events, including two World Cup Finals and four senior ISSF World Cups.
The shooting ranges across India will be bustling throughout 2025, with the first-ever Shooting League of India (SLI) also scheduled for the first half of the year, along with regular national competitions that take place annually, culminating in the national championships, as reported by the NRAI.
