First batch of Indian shooters head to Cairo

Ranvir Singh

New Delhi : A first batch of 58 Indian shooters and support staff headed to Cairo to take part in the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun, scheduled in the Egyptian capital from April 19-27, 2026. The Cairo Junior World Cup will kickstart the ISSF junior circuit, which has three events lined up for Shotgun shooters and two for Rifle and Pistol shooters, this calendar year.

India has fielded a total of 71 shooters for the 18 medal events, including 36 shooters in the 15 Olympic events in the Cairo detail. The three additional events include the traditional junior men’s and women’s 50m rifle prone competitions as well as the men’s 25m pistol event, which is touted to be part of the 2032 Olympics.

In all, 284 athletes from 25 countries will compete in Cairo with India fielding the largest contingent. Hosts Egypt will field a 29-member squad, whereas Russia, competing under the Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) banner, has also entered a large 43-member squad.

Other top shooting nations that have entered sizeable squads are France (24), Great Britain (16) and Italy (13).

With Junior World Championships slated for June in Suhl, Germany, this will be a good opportunity for Indian juniors to stake their claim for that blue riband event.