The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has announced a 36-member Indian junior squad for the upcoming first International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun, scheduled in Suhl, Germany, from May 19-27, 2025.
The squad will participate in 15 events including three mixed team events.
The select 36 will also be looking to continue India’s dominance in the junior circuit on the world stage, given Indian colts easily dominated the final event of the international junior circuit last year, the Junior World Championships in Peru in October, topping with a whopping 13 golds.
“We have a home junior world cup coming up in September and the juniors will be looking to impress with an eye on that as well. We are confident of our future stars, they are under the eagle eyes of experienced coaches and are very well supported by the Government. We expect a top finish,” says Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, President, NRAI.
Suhl, a traditional hub of the junior Shooting circuit, has been a launchpad to many Champions in the years gone by and the Indian juniors will be closely watched with an eye on Los Angeles 2028.
Paris Olympian Raiza Dhillon will be part of the 12-strong Shotgun squad and two stars from the Peru worlds, Mukesh Nelavali who won five golds (and two bronze medals) and Divanshi, who won a double gold including a win in the women’s 25m pistol individual event, will return for an encore.