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India is scheduled to host the Shooting World Cup combined (shotgun/rifle/pistol) in 2017. The combined tournament is one of four World Cup events in a calendar year organised by the International Shooting Sport Federation’s (ISSF) calendar.
Based on the success of the tournament, India will pitch to bid for the prestigious World Championship in 2018, in which 70 quota places for the 2020 Olympics will be available.
NRAI President Raninder Singh said, “Despite the lack of corporate support, we have managed to bag the combined World Cup in 2017. Apart from that we are also planning to bid for the World Championship, which will give me 70 Olympic quota spots. Giving home grown talent to try their shot at the biggest stage of them all.”
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India has had an impressive haul of 17 medals, including six gold (two in individual senior), five silver and six bronze to finish as toppers in the continental event.
Former world number one Heena Sidhu clinched the gold medal in women’s 10m air pistol to kickstart India’s campaign at the Championship on a winning note on Thursday. Shweta Singh won the silver medal and stood second on the podium as Seon A Kim of Korea stood with her bronze medal.
We hope broadcasting helps us get sponsors for 2017 WC: NRAI President
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) is using the ongoing 8th Asian Air Gun Championship as a platform to bid for bigger events in the near future. This is to be followed by the Asian Shooting Championship in November, to be held in Kuwait, which is going to be the final qualification stage for next year’s Olympics.
However, the ongoing Championship has not generated a buzz, due to the absence of corporate funding. The tournament failed to garner a title sponsor.
This comes as a surprise as the sport has consistently brought laurels to India, since Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore’s double trap silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
To climb out of financial troubles and make the sport more audience-friendly, NRAI sold the 8th Asian Air Gun Championship’s telecast rights for the first time to Star Sports.
“The tournament doesn't have a title sponsor as is always the case, but we have a broadcasting partner in Star Sports. The idea is to attract sponsors for the 2017 World Cup,” expressed Singh.
