NRAI Launches Elite National Shooting Camp Ahead of Hangzhou World Cup and Asian Games

NRAI Begins High-Performance National Camp for Major International Events

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has announced the commencement of its elite National Shooting Camp ahead of the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, China, and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The high-performance camp, running through July 20, 2026, will bring together 35 of India's finest shooters across Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun disciplines.

The training programme has been designed to fine-tune India's top shooters as they prepare for two of the biggest competitions on the international shooting calendar.

Olympians and World Championship Medallists Lead Strong Indian Squad

The camp features several of India's leading Olympic and World Championship stars, including Manu Bhaker, Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Elavenil Valarivan, Esha Singh and Bhowneesh Mendiratta.

A total of 35 athletes will undergo specialised training under the supervision of an experienced Indian and international coaching staff.

International Coaching Experts to Guide Indian Shooters

The NRAI has assembled an accomplished coaching panel led by Olympic champion Peter Wilson, who will oversee the Trap discipline. The foreign coaching team also includes Thomas Farnik (Rifle), Jalena Arunovic (Pistol) and Riccardo Filippelli (Skeet).

The international experts will work alongside distinguished Indian coaches, including Commonwealth Games gold medallist Samaresh Jung, who serves as Head Coach for the 10m Pistol team, and former Olympian Anwer Sultan, High Performance Coach for Trap.

NRAI President Highlights Importance of the Camp

"We are entering an incredibly crucial couple of months for Indian shooting. The World Cup in Hangzhou and the Asian Games are major benchmarks for us, and this camp is designed to make sure our shooters are peaking at the exact right moment. Having our core group train together under the guidance of top-tier coaches like Peter Wilson, Samaresh Jung, and our international team gives us the perfect environment to iron out minor details. It's all about fine-tuning their routines so they can walk onto the international ranges with absolute clarity," said Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, President, NRAI.

Sports Science Team to Support Athlete Preparation

The coaching structure is further strengthened by High Performance Director Dr. Pierre Beauchamp and High Performance Manager Ronak Pandit, who will oversee an 11-member sports science unit focused on injury prevention, physical conditioning and mental preparation.

"A national camp like this is really about building the right momentum and camaraderie before heading into major tournaments. Our primary focus is to give our athletes the absolute best support system possible, ensuring they have everything they need to train without any distractions. The energy and focus among the shooters and the entire coaching staff right now is excellent. We are going into these next few months as one tight unit, and I am confident that this collective hard work will translate into strong performances on the global stage," said Pawankumar Singh, Secretary General, NRAI.

Training Schedule Optimised Across Disciplines

The NRAI has structured the camp in staggered phases to maximise training efficiency at the national shooting facility.

• Rifle & Pistol: July 12–17, 2026
• Trap: July 14–20, 2026
• Skeet: Dedicated technical block beginning July 9, 2026

Elite Athletes Named in National Camp

Rifle & Pistol

Men: Parth Rakesh Mane, Himanshu Dhillon, Shahu Tushar Mane, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Niraj Kumar, Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil, Kedarling Balakrishna Uchaganve, Kamaljeet, Anish, Omkar Singh and Bhavesh Shekhawat.

Women: Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Uttam Maskar, Sakshi Sunil Padekar, Ashi Chouksey, Vidarsa K Vinod, Tilottama Sen, Suruchi, Sainyam, Esha Singh, Manu Bhaker and Rahi Sarnobat.

Trap

Men: Udaiveer Singh Jaijee, Bhowneesh Mendiratta and Vivaan Kapoor.

Women: Pragati Dubey, Kirti Gupta and Rajeshwari Kumari.

Skeet

Men: Gurjoat Siingh Khangura, Parampal Singh Guron and Abhay Singh Sekhon.

Women: Ganemat Sekhon, Darshna Rathore and Yashasvi Rathore.

About NRAI

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) is the governing body for shooting sports in India. It is responsible for promoting and developing the sport, conducting national competitions, and preparing Indian shooters for international events, including the Olympic Games, World Championships and Asian Games.

(Inputs from Press Release)