Fresh off a strong showing at the 68th National Shooting Championships in Bhopal, Indian shooter Niraj Kumar believes Indian shooting is entering a phase that Shooting League of India could redefine how the sport is perceived, followed, and supported in the country.
The World Cup gold medallist clinched the silver medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions (3P) event, adding another significant result to a steadily rising career. Yet, beyond podium finishes, Kumar sees the upcoming Shooting League of India (SLI) as a potential game-changer for the sport’s ecosystem.
Kumar’s journey to the national podium has been anything but straightforward. Hailing from a small border town in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district, his introduction to shooting came through the National Cadet Corps (NCC) in 2014. Like many athletes from modest backgrounds, he faced financial constraints and social uncertainty around pursuing a niche sport. Convincing his parents to back his aspirations took years, and it was only after his selection into the Indian Navy that his career gained stability and full family support.
That personal experience shapes Kumar’s optimism around the Shooting League of India. In his view, the league can address one of the biggest challenges Indian shooting has long faced: perception. “Families often encourage a child to pursue a sport only after seeing successful examples within that discipline,” he said. “The Shooting League of India will help establish those examples for the public.”
For Kumar, the league’s biggest strength lies in visibility. Shooting, despite being India’s most consistent Olympic medal-producing sport in recent years, remains largely misunderstood by the general public. Competitions are often followed only by those already involved in the discipline. Kumar believes a broadcast-friendly league format can change that equation.
“Normally, our audience is limited to people who already understand or have practiced shooting,” he explained. “But with the league being broadcast, a much wider audience will get the chance to learn about and appreciate the sport. When people understand what goes into each shot, each decimal point, their interest automatically grows.”
Another aspect of the SLI that excites Kumar is the opportunity to compete alongside international greats. The league is expected to bring elite global shooters together with India’s best, creating a rare learning environment outside traditional international competitions. Kumar specifically mentioned Hungarian world champion István Péni as someone he is eager to share the range with, along with Indian teammate Kiran Jadhav.
“I am excited to shoot alongside Hungarian athlete István Péni and my Indian teammate Kiran Jadhav,” Kumar said. “It would be even better if we are in the same team. Training and competing with such athletes helps you raise your own standards.”
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Reflecting on his silver medal at the National Championships, Kumar played down the idea of any special preparation routine. Instead, he credited the structured support system available to elite shooters in India today. “I did not follow a specific regime for the nationals,” he said. “But the infrastructure at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range, where I train, is excellent.”
He highlighted how institutional support has reduced barriers that once held back aspiring shooters. “We are provided with hostel accommodation, three meals a day, and ammunition for training,” Kumar noted. “That is a huge advantage. Ammunition is expensive, and having consistent access allows you to focus purely on performance.”
Despite the depth of talent and fierce competition within Indian shooting, Kumar emphasised that the sport’s individual nature fosters a healthy environment among athletes. Rivalries exist, but they rarely spill into personal animosity. “Since shooting is an individual sport, you have to stay in your lane, focus on your target and fight with yourself,” he said. “We don’t really pay attention to each other during competition, and that’s actually a positive.”
Off the firing line, camaraderie prevails. “We meet, talk, hang out. Everything goes well. There is no negativity on the range,” Kumar added, pointing to a culture that values mutual respect alongside competitive excellence.
Looking ahead to the 2026 season and beyond, Kumar’s ambitions remain clear. An Olympic medal is the ultimate goal, and every competition is a step toward that dream. In this context, he sees the Shooting League of India not just as another event on the calendar, but as a high-intensity ecosystem that can sharpen athletes while bringing fans closer to the sport.
“The league will help athletes perform under pressure and also help audiences connect with shooting,” Kumar said. “If people start following shooters the way they follow players in other leagues, it will be a big win for the sport.”
For shooters like Niraj Kumar, the rise of the SLI represents more than opportunity it signals a shift towards recognition, sustainability, and a future where the next generation does not have to fight the same battles simply to be seen.
