India will soon have its first franchise league in sport shooting, called the Shooting League of India (SLI), as announced by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI). The idea, proposed by NRAI President Shri. Kalikesh Narayana Singh Deo, has been approved by the NRAI Governing Body. The league is expected to launch in 2025, pending approval from the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF).
Shri. Singh Deo said, “Shooting, especially after the recent Paris Olympics, has grown in popularity, and we felt this was the right time to launch a league. Franchise leagues have helped popularize other sports, bringing in new audiences and revenue. We owe it to our athletes to make the sport self-sustainable.”
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He added, “Olympic shooting isn’t considered TV-friendly, but we believe we’ve found a winning formula. Let’s hope it benefits the sport and its athletes who have brought glory to India.”
NRAI Secretary-General K. Sultan Singh shared more about SLI, saying, “We plan to include all 15 Olympic events and innovate the formats to make them more exciting for viewers. We’ll also have unique ownership and team structures to attract new audiences and sponsors.”
India won three bronze medals in shooting at the 2024 Paris Olympics, making it the country’s most successful individual Olympic sport, with a total of one gold, two silver, and four bronze medals in the last two decades. Abhinav Bindra’s gold in 2008 was India’s first individual Olympic gold, and in Paris, Manu Bhaker became the first Indian athlete to win more than one medal in a single Games.