ISSF Junior World Cup 2025 in New Delhi: Nations Present, Nations Missing, and India’s Big Stage
The ISSF Junior World Cup 2025, scheduled in New Delhi, India from September 24 to October 2, is set to be one of the most significant sporting events of the year for junior shooters. With the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Ranges as the venue, the competition will bring together athletes under 21 across rifle, pistol, and shotgun disciplines, showcasing future Olympians while also revealing intriguing gaps in participation. India’s role as host is both symbolic and practical. The country has invested heavily in shooting infrastructure and talent pipelines, and the results are clear.
In 2025, Indian juniors topped the medal table at the Suhl Junior World Cup in Germany with 11 medals, and followed up with a historic 99 medals at the Asian Shooting Championships in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. The New Delhi edition provides a perfect homecoming. With 69 athletes entered, India fields by far the largest delegation, dwarfing other nations. Familiar names such as Naraen Pranav, Abhinav Shaw, Shambhavi Kshirsagar, Kapil, Rashmika Sahgal, Aryavansh Tyagi, and Raiza Dhillon will compete. For India, this is not just a competition but a chance to confirm its place as the global hub of junior shooting.
Nations Participating
According to the official entry list, the following delegations will be present in New Delhi:
More than ten athletes
USA with 20, GB with 16, Italy with 10, Netherlands with 13 & India with 69, Athlètes Individuels Neutres (AIN) – 40 athletes (Russian/Belarusian shooters competing under neutral flag)
Less than ten athletes are participating from several countries, including Croatia (7), Cyprus (3), Czechia (9), Spain (8), Finland (3), Iran (6), Saudi Arabia (2), New Zealand (2), Oman (4), Qatar (4), Slovakia (5), and the United Arab Emirates (5).
In total, 18 delegations are participating, including both traditional shooting nations and emerging teams.
The Missing Giants: Perhaps the most striking feature of the New Delhi Junior World Cup is not who is competing, but who is absent. China, despite dominating at Suhl earlier this year, China has not entered athletes for New Delhi. Their absence removes one of India’s fiercest rivals.
Germany, hosts of the first 2025 Junior World Cup in Suhl are missing here, surprising given their strong junior system. South Korea, a powerhouse in Asia and regular medal contender, also not participating. France, Norway, Switzerland, Poland, USA’s European peers, some of these won medals in Suhl but are absent in New Delhi.
Pakistan, did not submit entries, continuing a pattern of withdrawal from sporting events in India due to political tensions. Most of Africa and Latin America, no representation from Egypt, Nigeria, Brazil, Mexico, or Argentina, leaving the competition heavily tilted toward Asia, Europe, and select Gulf nations. This limited field, while still competitive, means New Delhi will not fully reflect the depth of global junior shooting.
Key Contenders
Even without some giants, several delegations will test India:
- United States (20 athletes) – A strong and balanced squad, especially in rifle and shotgun.
- Italy (10 athletes) – Traditional European strength, with consistency across all three disciplines.
- Great Britain (16 athletes) – Impressive junior development program, bringing medal potential.
- Netherlands (13 athletes) – Emerging force, especially in rifle events.
- Individual Neutral Athletes (40 athletes) – Russians and Belarusians competing under IOC rules; already proven medal contenders in Suhl.
India, however, with sheer numbers and form, remains the overwhelming favorite for the top of the medal table.
Why This Junior World Cup Still Matters
Even with absences, New Delhi’s Junior World Cup is important for several reasons:
Talent pipeline – Junior World Cups are a preview of future Olympians. Many of the shooters in New Delhi will be competing at senior ISSF events and even the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Technological innovation – As seen in Suhl, ISSF uses junior competitions to trial broadcast technologies like target-tracking, aiming to make shooting more exciting for audiences.
Home advantage for India – The size of India’s team and their current form could translate into a record-breaking medal haul, boosting the sport’s popularity domestically.
The ISSF Junior World Cup 2025 in New Delhi will be remembered as a blend of opportunity and absence. On one hand, it showcases India’s emergence as a shooting superpower, backed by infrastructure, talent, and home advantage. On the other, it highlights how global politics and strategic choices by nations shape participation. With 18 delegations confirmed led by India, the United States, Italy, Great Britain, and a large neutral contingent the event remains competitive, though lacking some of the sport’s heavyweights.
For India, this is both a proving ground and a victory lap. For the ISSF, it is another experiment in growing shooting’s global footprint. And for the athletes, it is a crucial step on the journey from junior promise to Olympic glory.
