I have been saying this for a while now and I will say it again. If there is one sport where India can win more than five medals at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, it is shooting.
The depth of Indian shooting is such at the moment that in almost every major global event podium finishes are a norm.
In the year-ending competition at the Lusail arena, which is also the venue of the world championship in 2026, the Indians have get again stood out. If Elavenil Valarivan missed on making the finals by the narrowest of margins, 0.1 to be exact, Samrat Rana, the young world champion, started India’s medal hunt. He ended up with a bronze before Suruchi Inder Singh showed her brilliance in the 10 meter pistol event.
Suruchi had missed out in Cairo and that had clearly irked her. Her performance in Qatar is an evidence of her talent and she could indeed be the one to watch out for in 2026.
In the men’s 10 m rifle, both Rudranksh Patil and Arjun could have made the podium. In a competition with seriously high scores, Patil had to settle for fourth despite shooting a 10.8 and a 10.7 in his final two shots.
On Sunday, Anish started where he left off in Cairo. A silver medal to follow up on his world championship exploits, it has been a stellar end to the year for Anish in the 25m pistol. In fact I wouldn’t be wrong in saying he has now found his mojo and could surely be a prospect at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya.
In the women’s 25m pistol, it was Simran Brar, somewhat unexpectedly, who won the gold yet again highlighting the depth in the sport in the country. With the elections all done and Kalikesh Singh Deo well entrenched for his first full term as President, one expects the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) to do more and help the sport grow even further in the months to come.
In the 25m pistol, Esha Singh, who has been consistent all through, yet again made the final while Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker narrowly missed qualifying finishing 9th in a fantastic field of shooters.
Finally, with the shooting league just round the corner, let me make a prediction. If the sport starts to attract money and corporate sponsorship, which it should given the prospects, it could well be India’s go to sport for the next few years. Over 20 medals in the Asian Games is a very likely possibility yet again and now the field is no longer restricted to a single Abhinav Bindra or a Gagan Narang. The depth is such that someone or the other will inevitably step up.
Take the case of Sift Samra who is on a comeback trail. Sift finished 9th in the year ender and narrowly missed making the final. But knowing her talent and potential and now that she knows how to lose, Paris has hardened her, it is more than likely that Sift will make it back to where she belongs in 2026.
In all of this, we need to commend the NRAI for putting structures and coaching programmes in place. India always had talent. Now we also have structure and proper planning. And may I say the results are showing.
In sum, if there is one sport other than white ball cricket where India has well and truly turned the corner in 2026, it has to be shooting. Medals are now a norm and should continue to be the case going forward.
