India’s Junior Shooters Begin ISSF World Cup Campaign as Two Medals Open Competition in Cairo

Cairo: India’s junior shooting squad will launch its 2026 international season on Tuesday as the ISSF Junior World Cup gets underway in Cairo, with the first medals of the tournament to be decided in two marquee events.

Competition on opening day will culminate with medal rounds in the women’s 10m air rifle and men’s 10m air pistol, where Indian shooters will be strongly represented.

India has arrived with a 71-member contingent, the largest among participating nations, underlining the country’s growing emphasis on building depth in junior shooting ahead of major international assignments this year.

In women’s 10m air rifle, India will field a six-member lineup featuring several rising names, including athletes with Asian and World Cup credentials. The event is expected to be one of India’s strongest medal opportunities on day one.

The men’s 10m air pistol event will also draw attention, particularly with the return of Shiva Narwal to international junior competition. He will lead India’s challenge alongside a group of promising young shooters looking to make an early impact.

Apart from the medal events, qualification and preliminary rounds in 25m pistol and skeet competitions for both men and women will also begin Tuesday, setting the stage for a packed opening schedule.

Tournament rules allow only the top three shooters from each country, based on qualification scores, to advance to the finals, making the internal battle among Indian shooters nearly as competitive as the field itself.

With 284 athletes from 25 countries competing, the Cairo event is seen as an important benchmark ahead of the Junior World Championships in Germany later this year.

For India’s young shooters, the World Cup offers not only a shot at medals but also a crucial platform to strengthen claims for future international selection.