NRAI Launches Elite National Shooting Camp Ahead of Crucial International Season

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has announced the commencement of its elite National Shooting Camp, bringing together the country's top rifle, pistol, and shotgun shooters as preparations intensify for two of the biggest competitions on the international calendar—the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, China, and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026.

The high-performance training camp, which runs through July 20, will feature 35 of India's leading shooters alongside an experienced coaching and sports science team. Designed to fine-tune technical skills, improve physical conditioning, and enhance mental preparedness, the camp is expected to play a crucial role in India's quest for medals at both events. With Olympic medallists, world champions, and emerging talents training together under one roof, the camp reflects the NRAI's continued emphasis on building a high-performance environment capable of delivering success on the global stage.

The national camp includes many of the biggest names in Indian shooting. Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker headlines the pistol contingent, while former world champions Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil and Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar strengthen the rifle squad. Joining them are Commonwealth Games and World Cup medallists Elavenil Valarivan, Esha Singh, and trap specialist Bhowneesh Mendiratta.

The camp also provides an opportunity for several younger shooters to train alongside India's most accomplished athletes, creating an environment where experience and emerging talent can benefit from each other. Across rifle, pistol, trap, and skeet disciplines, the selected athletes represent the core group expected to shoulder India's medal hopes over the coming months.

One of the major highlights of the camp is the presence of an elite international coaching panel assembled by the NRAI. Olympic gold medallist Peter Wilson will oversee the trap shooters, while Austrian coach Thomas Farnik continues to lead the rifle programme. Serbian shooting legend Jalena Arunovic will supervise the pistol shooters, and Italian expert Riccardo Filippelli will work with India's skeet contingent. The international coaches bring decades of experience at the Olympic and World Championship levels, offering Indian shooters access to some of the finest technical expertise in the sport.

Their role extends beyond refining technique, with a strong emphasis on competition strategy, match preparation, and adapting to international conditions.

Complementing the foreign experts is an equally accomplished Indian coaching setup. Former Commonwealth Games champion Samaresh Jung continues as Head Coach for the 10m Pistol programme, while former Olympian Anwer Sultan leads the trap high-performance programme. Other experienced coaches include Manoj Kumar, D.S. Chandel, Harpreet Singh, Pooja Ghatkar, Satgurdas, Yoginder Pal Singh Sansanwal, Jodhbir Singh, and Neelanjana Ghosal.

The combination of international expertise and Indian coaching experience provides athletes with a balanced support structure that addresses both technical development and competition-specific preparation.

https://www.indiasportshub.com/articles/india-extend-issf-junior-world-championship-2026-lead-as-shiva-narwal-wins-silver-and-yug-pratap-singh-rathore-takes-bronze

Modern shooting success depends on far more than technical ability. Recognising this, the NRAI has integrated an extensive sports science programme into the national camp.

The support team is led by High Performance Director Dr Pierre Beauchamp and High Performance Manager Ronak Pandit, who will oversee an 11-member sports science unit focusing on injury prevention, physical conditioning, recovery, nutrition, biomechanics, and psychological readiness. Mental strength remains one of the most decisive factors in elite shooting, where competitions are often decided by fractions of a point.

The structured approach adopted during the camp aims to ensure athletes reach peak physical and mental condition before heading to Hangzhou and later to the Asian Games.

NRAI President Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo described the upcoming months as a defining period for Indian shooting.

"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," he said.

He emphasised that bringing together the country's top shooters under experienced coaches would allow athletes to fine-tune every aspect of their preparation before stepping onto international ranges. NRAI Secretary General Pawankumar Singh echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the importance of creating an environment where athletes can focus entirely on performance.

"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," he said.

To maximise efficiency at the national shooting range, the camp has been divided into multiple training blocks. The rifle and pistol squads are training between July 12 and July 17, while the trap shooters will continue preparations until July 20. The skeet contingent began its specialised technical block earlier on July 9, allowing coaches to dedicate focused range time to each discipline without overcrowding facilities.

This staggered schedule ensures athletes receive uninterrupted technical sessions while allowing coaching staff to provide greater individual attention.

The immediate objective for India's shooters is the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, which will serve as an important test against the world's best before attention shifts to the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games later this year. India has emerged as one of the world's strongest shooting nations over the past decade, consistently winning medals at the Olympics, World Championships, Asian Games, and ISSF World Cups.

With an experienced core led by Manu Bhaker, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Elavenil Valarivan, Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil, Esha Singh, and Bhowneesh Mendiratta, the national camp represents the beginning of India's final phase of preparation.

As the country's best shooters sharpen their skills under world-class coaches and an integrated sports science team, expectations will once again be high for India to deliver another successful campaign on the international stage in Hangzhou and Aichi-Nagoya.