New Delhi, July 31 (NationPress) The high-performance manager of the Indian Shooting team, Ronak Pandit, asserts that the Shooting League of India (SLI) has the potential to leverage technology to expand its audience base.

During an event at the Indian national camp in Dehradun in July, Pandit, a former shooter and pistol mentor, emphasized that technology and animation can serve as pivotal factors in transforming the league and presenting the sport in an innovative light.

"Many perceive shooting as a technical and dull sport. Our goal is to infuse excitement and incorporate animation. Utilizing technology and animation, we can convey to the public in an engaging way what the sport truly entails," remarked Pandit.

"It is essential for the audience to grasp various elements of shooting, but this should not be done in a technical manner. By employing animation, we can eliminate ambiguity and enhance understanding, especially for those unfamiliar with the sport," the 40-year-old added.

The Shooting League of India, the inaugural franchise-based professional shooting event in India, received approval from the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) earlier this year and has garnered backing from the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF).

Pandit expresses that for the tournament to thrive, it must engage a broad audience, ensuring its appeal to investors and viability for the long term.

"To achieve sustainability, we must make the league attractive to those investing. Ultimately, success hinges on viewer engagement, which cannot solely rely on viewership. We need to create an experience that allows the public to enjoy and connect with the sport," he explained.

The inaugural tournament will feature mixed team events across various categories, including pistol (10m, 25m), rifle (10m, 50m 3-position), and shotgun (Trap & Skeet). Shooters will be categorized into four tiers—Elite Champions, World Elite, National Champions, and Junior & Youth Champions—to ensure a vibrant mix of seasoned and emerging talent.

Pandit further highlighted the audience's perspective, stressing that the league should aim to provide 'meaningful entertainment'.

"While shooting is not typically a spectator sport, it draws attention during the Olympics, primarily due to the emotional connection with Indian medal winners. However, the league must transcend this notion," he noted.

"Just as Indian cinema audiences flock to theaters for entertaining films like Tom Cruise's 'Top Gun: Maverick', we must present the league in an equally engaging manner, utilizing technology to build anticipation with each shot.

"When a shooter lifts their gun, we can explore technological avenues to illustrate the athlete's mindset and provide statistics indicating the likelihood of success for each shot. These strategies will significantly enhance audience engagement," Pandit stated.

The first edition of the Shooting League of India is scheduled to take place from November 20 to December 2, at the Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi.