We want to strengthen our shooters financially through league: NRAI president

NEW DELHI: National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) recently announced the sport's first-ever franchise-based league in the country - Shooting League of India.

The league has the approval from the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), the sport's global governing body. The first edition is likely to take place in March next year. NRAI president Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo spoke to TOI and talked about the modalities involved.

Excerpts...
What will be the format of the league and how many events will feature in it?
As you are aware, shooting has traditionally sent the largest contingent to the Olympics and the Asian Games, producing the largest medal winners. This is an opportune time for the league to take place. The format will ensure that the league becomes exciting, financially viable and spectator-friendly.

How many countries will be invited?
We are in the process of dealing with the ISSF. We need to have a format where the franchises would have the freedom to select a certain number of foreign athletes, a certain number of India's top shooters as well as some junior stars who would be part of the league so that we can give proper exposure. Shooting is one of those rare sports where you can have mixed events and traditionally, India has been very good at mixed events. Therefore, I am sure the format would incorporate some mixed events going forward.

What may be the overall budget for the entire league?
I think the priority of setting up a league is many fold. One is to increase the visibility of the sport of shooting.

Two is to give an additional platform to our shooters to be able to compete and get financially supported. And, of course, to increase the number of resources coming into the sport, both to the shooters as well as federation. The league has to be viable not only for the federation and shooters, but to our franchise owners.

In terms of timelines, when are you planning to have the league?
We intend to close on the formation of the league and hopefully sign on franchises in the next few months to be able to conduct the league in March next year. Karni Singh range is an automatic choice for hosting the league.