NEW DELHI: In a significant development for Indian sports, the country has been awarded the hosting rights for the 2027 Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship, which will be held in Delhi. This prestigious event will feature eight quota places for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, marking a landmark achievement for India's shooting calendar.
Dual Olympic Quota Events in India
The Asian Shooting Confederation confirmed India's hosting rights through a formal letter addressed to National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) president Kalikesh Singh Deo. This championship will be held alongside the ISSF World Cup (Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun), scheduled for April 21-30, 2025 in Delhi, which offers 12 Olympic berths.
This creates a historic scenario where India will, for the first time, host two separate Olympic quota competitions within a short timeframe. The Asian Championship's specific dates will be announced later by the NRAI.
International Recognition and Confidence
The Asian Shooting Confederation's letter, accessed by media sources, stated: "We congratulate National Rifle Association of India for winning the hosting rights of Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship 2027 where eight Quota Places will be distributed for the LA 2028 Olympics. We are confident that, under your leadership, the championship will be organised to the highest standards and will be a great success."
NRAI secretary general Pawankumar Singh expressed pride in this achievement, noting: "This is the first time India will be hosting two Olympic quota competitions and we are very proud of that. We will host the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun in New Delhi and the Asian Championships in Rifle and Pistol here at the Karni Singh Ranges."
Growing Clout of Indian Shooting
Singh emphasized that this dual hosting opportunity reflects the growing stature of Indian shooting sports internationally. "This shows the growing clout of Indian shooting sport and the confidence the international body has in us," he added, referring to the International Shooting Sport Federation's faith in India's organizational capabilities.
The ISSF has restored Olympic qualification slots through World Cups for the Los Angeles Games cycle, reversing its previous decision during the Paris Olympics cycle when such quotas weren't awarded through World Cups.
Opportunity for Indian Shooters
Singh expressed optimism about Indian shooters' prospects, stating: "Indian shooters will hopefully capitalise on this opportunity and aim for the maximum quota allocation of 24 places for a country, surpassing the 22 quotas they secured ahead of the Paris Games."
With home advantage and familiar conditions at the Karni Singh Ranges, Indian athletes have an unprecedented opportunity to secure Olympic quotas through both the Asian Championship and the ISSF World Cup.
Immediate Context
Meanwhile, Delhi is currently preparing to host this year's Asian Rifle/Pistol Championships starting Wednesday at the Karni Singh Ranges. This event will feature more than 300 shooters from 20 countries competing across junior and senior categories, serving as a precursor to the larger 2027 championship.
The back-to-back hosting of major shooting events in Delhi underscores India's emergence as a key destination for international shooting competitions and highlights the country's improving infrastructure and organizational capabilities in the sport.
