The Scale of the 68th National Shooting Championship
While the elite battled for crystal globes in Doha, the heart of Indian shooting was beating in New Delhi and Bhopal. The 68th National Shooting Championship Competitions (NSCC) has shattered all previous records, serving as a testament to the sport's exploding popularity in the subcontinent.
By the Numbers
Participants: Over 16,000 athletes have qualified to participate.3 To put this in perspective, the 67th NSCC had 13,522 entries. This represents a nearly 20% year-on-year growth.
Venues & Dates:
Shotgun: Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range, New Delhi (Dec 1, 2025 – Jan 5, 2026).17
Pistol: Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range, New Delhi (Dec 11, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026).
Rifle: MP State Shooting Academy, Bhopal (Dec 11, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025).
The Logistical Challenge
Managing an event of this magnitude is a logistical operation comparable to a small military exercise.
Ammunition Rationing: The NRAI issued a notice that ammunition sales from its office would be closed from December 10 to January 4.17 This drastic measure is to ensure that all available stock is reserved for the competitors at the ranges. With 16,000 shooters firing hundreds of rounds each, the consumption will run into millions of pellets and cartridges.
Relay Management: The NRAI website faced technical issues due to the load of "online lane allocation" requests.17 Shooters (except the top-ranked group) are required to book their own relays, creating a "fastest finger first" scenario that underscores the infrastructure bottleneck.
Inclusivity Milestone: Para-Trap Debuts
A historic development at the 68th NSCC is the formal inclusion of Para-Trap events. This aligns the NRAI with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) standards and opens a pathway for differently-abled athletes to compete for national glory.
The Pioneer: Balendu Singh from Bikaner, Rajasthan, has emerged as a face of this movement. Mentored by his father and the legacy of Dr. Karni Singh, Balendu won the Silver Medal in the inaugural Para Trap event.18
The Podium:
Gold: Rajveer Singh Shekhon (Punjab).
Silver: Balendu Singh (Rajasthan).
Bronze: Nadeem Hussain (Uttar Pradesh).
Significance: Balendu represents India at World Shooting Para Sport competitions.18 His success at the NSCC validates the need for inclusive categories and will likely inspire a new wave of para-athletes to take up the shotgun.
Strategic Shift: The Postponement of the Shooting League of India (SLI)
In a significant strategic pivot, the inaugural Shooting League of India (SLI) has been postponed to early 2026.4
What is the SLI?
The SLI is envisioned as the world’s first franchise-based professional shooting league, officially sanctioned by the ISSF. It aims to do for shooting what the IPL did for cricket—inject glamour, high stakes, and broadcast appeal.
Format: Franchise teams, mixed gender, rapid formats.
Interest: Over 400 athletes from 20+ countries (including Germany, USA, Italy) have registered.19
Why the Postponement?
The league was originally scheduled for November 24 – December 7, 2025.4 However, this window clashed directly with the preparation for the World Cup Final in Doha (Dec 4-9) and the start of the NSCC (Dec 1).
Calendar Congestion: Holding a high-profile league simultaneously with the NSCC would have diluted the national championship. Top Indian shooters would have been torn between their franchise obligations and their state/national duty (NSCC scores are mandatory for national squad selection).
Athlete Welfare: The NRAI recognized that forcing athletes to compete in the SLI immediately before the World Cup Final would risk burnout and poor performance in Doha. The decision to prioritize the WCF and NSCC demonstrates a "Sport First" philosophy.
Commercial Viability: A league launch needs undivided media attention. Competing with the news cycle of World Cup Gold medals would have been counterproductive. Moving to early 2026 provides a clear window to market the league effectively.
Early Results from NSCC Shotgun
While the NSCC is ongoing, early results from the Trap events (Group 5) are available:
Defending Champions: Lakshay Sheoran (Haryana) and Bhavya Tripathi (Delhi) have made strong starts, qualifying for the finals.20
Junior Depth: In the women's category, Olympian Rajeshwari Kumari topped qualification with 114, but she is being chased closely by juniors like Bhavya (110) and Sabeera Haris.20 This mirrors the trend seen in Doha—the juniors are coming for the seniors' crowns.
Conclusion: The Road to 2026
For the Indian shooting community, the last 48 hours have clarified the roadmap for 2026.
Talent is Secure: The victories of Simranpreet and Suruchi prove that the talent pipeline is gushing, not just flowing.
Shotgun Needs Help: The disparity in Doha is a wake-up call. The NSCC Shotgun participation numbers will be the first metric to watch for signs of a revival.
Professional Era Awaits: With the SLI moving to 2026, the new year promises to be the dawn of professional shooting in India.
The 68th NSCC is not just a competition; it is a census of a sporting revolution. With 16,000 participants, shooting is no longer a niche pursuit of the elite—it is becoming a mass movement.