New Delhi to Host 2027 ISSF World Cup as Olympic Qualifier

In a significant boost for Indian shooting, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has secured the rights to host the 2027 ISSF World Cup as an Olympic quota event for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. This announcement marks a major opportunity for Indian shooters to secure quota places on home soil.

The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) has allocated the 2027 World Cup in New Delhi as an Olympic qualifier, with 12 quota places up for grabs across various disciplines. According to the announced 2028 Olympic qualification pathway, the competition will offer one quota place in each of the 12 Olympic shooting events.

Pawan Kumar Singh, the newly-elected secretary general of the NRAI, expressed his enthusiasm about hosting the event, stating that it would provide a good opportunity for Indian shooters to win Olympic quotas at their home range. He also mentioned that the NRAI had specifically requested the ISSF to grant India an Olympic quota event.

The Olympic qualification cycle will commence with the ISSF World Championships in Doha next year, where 36 quota places will be awarded. The 2027 World Championships for rifle and pistol events will offer 24 quotas. Additionally, seven World Cups will provide opportunities to secure Olympic berths in rifle, pistol, and shotgun events. The Asian Championships will serve as the final tournament for Indian shooters to obtain 2028 Olympic quotas, with 54 quota places available. Furthermore, 12 quota places will be allocated based on world rankings, with the qualification window spanning from July 31, 2026, to May 1, 2028.

India had a strong shooting contingent of 21 members at the Paris Olympics, competing in 15 events. Indian shooters had a successful showing, with Manu Bhaker securing two bronze medals in the individual 10m air pistol and mixed team event (partnering with Sarabjot Singh), and Swapnil Kusale winning a bronze medal in the 50m rifle 3P event.

Looking ahead to the 2028 Olympics, the ISSF is considering several changes to enhance the sport's appeal. These potential changes include increasing the number of finalists in individual shotgun events from six to eight to ensure uniformity across events. The ISSF also aims to make the finals more engaging for spectators and broadcasters, addressing concerns about the length and lack of emotion in the current format.

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are set to feature a record number of 351 medal events, with a greater emphasis on gender equality and youth appeal. For the first time, female athletes will outnumber male athletes in the overall quota, with 5,655 slots allocated to women compared to 5,543 for men. The Games will also witness the rise of mixed-gender competition, with the addition of six new mixed events, including a mixed team event in shooting (trap).