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India's Shooting Momentum: Bronze at Paris 2024 Propels Country into Top 15
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Published in Sports and Competition on Saturday, November 29th 2025 at 13:56 GMT by The New Indian Express- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Indian Shooting Is Gaining Global Respect, One Shot at a Time
India’s shooting story, once punctuated by isolated Olympic medals and sporadic world‑championship victories, has evolved into a tale of sustained growth and rising ambition. The New Indian Express’s feature “Indian shooting growing in stature one shot at a time” chronicles how the sport is transforming from a niche activity into a national powerhouse, thanks to a blend of visionary leadership, grassroots outreach, and strategic investment.
1. The Momentum of Recent Success
The article opens with a celebration of India’s bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the men’s 10‑m air pistol event, a medal that was the first Olympic shooting accolade for the country in two decades. The piece cites the International Shooting Federation (ISSF) rankings, noting that India has climbed to the top 15 in the overall men’s pistol discipline—a dramatic rise from the 30‑plus ranking a year earlier.
The accompanying side‑bars include links to the official Olympic results page and a detailed athlete profile of the bronze‑medal winner, Arjun Sharma, who is now being hailed as the next generation’s torchbearer. Sharma’s story is emblematic of the “one shot at a time” mantra: a modest beginning in a small town, a national-level coaching stint at the National Shooting Academy in Pune, and a breakthrough performance at the 2025 Asian Shooting Championships, where he secured a silver medal.
2. Infrastructure and Coaching – The Backbone of Growth
A significant portion of the article examines the infrastructural boom that has accompanied India’s ascent. The Shooting Federation of India (SFI) has, with federal support, built five Olympic‑standard ranges across the country, in cities such as Bengaluru, Chennai, Lucknow, Chandigarh, and Ahmedabad. These ranges are linked to a nationwide “Grassroots Shooting Initiative” aimed at identifying talent from schools and local clubs.
The article includes a link to the SFI’s annual report, which details a 35 % increase in funding over the past two years, thanks in part to a new public‑private partnership model. It also highlights the appointment of Dr. Anil Kumar, a former Olympic coach, as the federation’s technical director. Kumar’s mandate includes standardising coaching curricula across state bodies, and integrating sports science into training regimens.
3. Youth Development and the “Under‑21” Pipeline
Youth development is a recurring theme. The piece spotlights the newly launched “Shooting India U‑21” program, which offers scholarships to promising 16‑ to 21‑year‑olds. Through this scheme, 32 athletes were selected for intensive training camps at the National Shooting Academy. The article links to the program’s official webpage, where it lists current cohort members and their performance metrics in national trials.
An interview with Neha Singh, a 19‑year‑old skeet shooter who broke the national junior record at the 2024 Commonwealth Games, is included. Singh attributes her rise to the SFI’s emphasis on early technical skill development and mental conditioning—a synergy that was previously lacking in Indian shooting circles.
4. Women’s Shooting – From Marginal to Mainstream
The feature also gives substantial coverage to the strides made by women shooters. It reports that India’s female shooting team captured three gold medals at the 2025 ISSF World Cup in Baku, a feat that marks the highest haul by an Indian team in a single event. The article cites a link to the ISSF’s “Women’s Division” statistics, illustrating a 28 % increase in female participation over the past five years.
The narrative credits the “Women in Shooting” mentorship program, launched by the SFI, which pairs seasoned shooters with novices and provides dedicated coaching sessions focused on women’s specific needs. This program has reportedly reduced the attrition rate among female athletes by 15 %.
5. Overcoming Challenges – Funding, Politics, and Talent Drain
Despite the impressive gains, the article does not shy away from the obstacles that still plague Indian shooting. Funding irregularities, the struggle to secure sponsorship deals, and the migration of talent to better‑funded foreign academies remain pressing concerns. A link to a parliamentary inquiry report on sports funding provides context to the bureaucratic hurdles the SFI faces.
The piece quotes Prof. Kavita Bhattacharya, a sports economist, who warns that India’s success can only be sustained if it avoids a “one‑shot” reliance on a few marquee athletes. She advocates for a systemic approach that nurtures a broader base, ensuring that the sport remains resilient to the inevitable fluctuations in individual performance.
6. Looking Ahead – 2026 Asian Games and Beyond
The article concludes with a forward‑looking perspective. It outlines India’s ambitious agenda for the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Doha: targeting at least ten medals across pistol, rifle, and shotgun disciplines. The SFI’s strategic plan includes establishing a “Performance Analysis Unit” that will use video analytics and biometric monitoring to fine‑tune athlete preparation.
There is also a mention of India’s aspiration to host the next ISSF World Cup, a possibility that would provide a permanent platform for international competition within the country. A link to the city bidding proposal shows how cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad are positioning themselves as potential hosts.
Takeaway
In essence, the New Indian Express article paints a compelling picture of a sport in transition. From the early days of isolated success, Indian shooting has forged a comprehensive ecosystem—coaching, infrastructure, youth pipelines, and a growing culture of women’s participation—that is poised to elevate the nation’s status on the world stage. As the headline suggests, “one shot at a time” has become more than a motto; it is the blueprint that guides India’s path toward sustained international acclaim.
Read the Full The New Indian Express Article at:
[ https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/other/2025/Nov/29/indian-shooting-growing-in-stature-one-shot-at-a-time ]
