India’s elite rifle and pistol shooters will shift their focus to domestic competition as the National Selection Trials 3 (Group A) gets underway at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range from March 6 to 10, 2026.
The trials come immediately after India’s remarkable performance at the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship 2026, where the host nation topped the medal standings with an extraordinary haul of 76 medals including 39 gold, 18 silver, and 19 bronze.
With the international calendar set to intensify in the coming months, the trials will play a critical role in shaping India’s national squad for upcoming competitions in the second half of the season.
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Almost all of India’s leading rifle and pistol shooters are expected to compete at the Delhi trials, which will feature 10 events. These include all eight Olympic disciplines, alongside the rifle prone competitions for men and women, giving athletes multiple opportunities to demonstrate their form and consistency.
For many shooters, the trials represent an important step in strengthening their case for selection to represent India in international competitions. With a packed year ahead, consistent performances at these trials could determine which athletes secure a place in the national squad for key global tournaments.
While the Group A trials will be held in Delhi, Group B athletes will compete simultaneously at the M.P. State Shooting Academy. The Selection Trials 3 and 4 for Group B shooters will take place between March 6 and March 22, ensuring that athletes across categories have sufficient opportunities to prove their credentials.
The dual-centre format reflects the increasing depth of Indian shooting, with a large pool of athletes competing for limited national team positions.
Following the completion of the selection trials, shooters selected for the national squad will immediately enter a training phase. A national coaching camp in New Delhi has been scheduled from March 10 to March 21, where athletes will work closely with coaches and support staff to fine-tune their preparation for the upcoming international season.
The camp will focus on sharpening technical consistency, mental preparation, and match simulation as shooters transition from domestic trials to the global circuit.
Shotgun Squad Also Begins Preparations
Preparations are also underway for India’s shotgun shooters. The national squad camp for shotgun athletes began in New Delhi on March 5, with skeet shooters reporting first for training. Trap shooters will join the camp on March 8, completing the full shotgun squad ahead of the upcoming competitions.
The training camp will serve as preparation for the first shotgun World Cup event of the season the ISSF World Cup Shotgun Tangier 2026, which is scheduled to take place in Tangier, Morocco, from March 21 to April 3.
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India has already announced squads for the first set of international competitions this year. These include the rifle and pistol World Cup stages in Granada and Munich, as well as shotgun World Cups in Tangier and Almaty. However, the selection trials remain extremely significant, as they help determine the composition of teams for later events in the season and provide shooters with competitive exposure ahead of major championships.
Beginning of a New Olympic Cycle
The 2026 season also marks the start of a new Olympic cycle leading up to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. This makes the current season particularly important for athletes aiming to secure early momentum and establish themselves as regular members of the national team.
One of the biggest milestones of the year will be the ISSF World Championship Doha 2026, scheduled for October–November in Doha. The championship will offer the first Olympic quota places for Los Angeles 2028, making it one of the most crucial events of the season.
Another major target for Indian shooters this year will be the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, where India has historically performed strongly in shooting disciplines. With Olympic qualification points and continental glory both at stake, the 2026 calendar is packed with opportunities for Indian shooters to reaffirm their dominance.
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India’s dominant display at the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship has already set the tone for the season. Winning 39 gold medals in the continental event highlighted both the depth and quality of India’s shooting program. The upcoming selection trials will now test whether those performances can be translated into consistent results under intense domestic competition.
For the athletes competing at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range, the trials represent far more than just another domestic event. They serve as a gateway to international competition, Olympic qualification pathways, and continental championships.
With the Los Angeles Olympic cycle beginning, every score and every series will carry added significance. As India’s top shooters assemble in Delhi, the coming days promise intense competition and perhaps the emergence of the next generation of champions who will carry the nation’s shooting legacy forward.
