Doha, 02 November (H.S.): Indian shooters have embarked on their campaign to secure quota places for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, with the country’s 35-member contingent targeting Olympic qualification at the ISSF World Championship for Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun, which began on November 1 at the Lusail Shooting Complex in Doha. The medal events will be held from November 3 to 13.

The Doha championship marks the first qualifying event for the Los Angeles Olympics and is also the biggest competition of the current Olympic qualification cycle. A total of 36 Olympic quota places are at stake, with three available in each of the 12 individual Olympic shooting events. The recent Asian Games did not offer any Olympic quota places in shooting, making the Doha championship India’s first opportunity to secure berths for Los Angeles 2028.

Each country can secure a maximum of one quota place in any individual event at this championship, giving India an opportunity to win up to 12 quota places.

Indian shooters have arrived in Doha following an impressive campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where they won 15 medals in shooting. Six of those medals came in shotgun events. Neeru Dhanda clinched India’s first gold medal in the women’s individual trap event. She also won gold in the mixed team event and a silver in the team competition. India’s skeet teams also secured three bronze medals.

Neeru will lead the Indian shotgun contingent, which also includes Zoravar Singh Sandhu, the bronze medallist in the trap event at the 2025 World Championships. In skeet, Asian Games medallists Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Bhavtegh Singh Gill, Mairaj Ahmad Khan, Raiza Dhillon and Parinaaz Dhaliwal will spearhead India’s challenge.

Two-time Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker will lead the pistol squad. The team also features Suruchi and Kamaljeet, who won gold in the mixed team 10m air pistol event at the Asian Games.

The rifle contingent will be led by Elavenil Valarivan and Himanshu Dhillon, both of whom won individual silver medals at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. India has fielded three shooters in each individual Olympic event. In addition, two pairs will compete in each of the four mixed team events.

National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) President Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo said, “Our preparations this season have been centred on this championship. The team has maintained the momentum generated at the Asian Games and trained at a focused national camp. Our shooters have arrived in Doha fully prepared and confident. The quota places secured here will give India more time to prepare for the Los Angeles Olympic Games. I am confident that our team will make the most of this opportunity.”

NRAI Secretary General Pawan Kumar Singh said, “Every member of the contingent has trained with clearly defined performance targets. The camp at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range was conducted in different phases. Rifle, pistol and shotgun shooters were allotted separate training schedules with their respective coaches, and preparations were guided by performance-related data. We have prepared to compete across all 16 events and make a strong start to our Los Angeles 2028 campaign.”

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar