Can shooting become India’s next TV sport

Can shooting become India’s next TV sport?

Can shooting become India’s next TV sport?

The Shooting League of India (SLI) is not just another addition to this ecosystem. In many ways, it is the most ambitious test yet.

Updated on: Apr 28, 2026 6:16 AM IST By Aratrick Mondal Share via Copy link Over the past decade, the Indian sporting ecosystem has quietly undergone a shift. Inspired by the rise and razzmatazz of the Indian Premier League, multiple disciplines have ventured into the franchise league model. Shooting League of India (SLI) is expected to make its debut this year From kabaddi and kho kho to badminton, hockey, rugby, and even new-age sports like pickleball, competitions once confined to federation calendars are now being transformed into prime-time properties — altering how they are played, packaged, and consumed. That experiment has now arrived at one of its most unlikely frontiers: shooting. The Shooting League of India (SLI) is not just another addition to this ecosystem. In many ways, it is the most ambitious test yet of whether a league format can fundamentally reimagine a sport that has traditionally resisted spectacle. Because unlike other sports that have successfully made the leap, shooting starts from a very different place. Kabaddi and kho kho bring raw physicality. Football, badminton, and tennis carry familiarity. Pickleball found an audience even before its formal structure, thanks to social media. Shooting, however, has none of these advantages. It is a sport of stillness, precision, and margins invisible to the naked eye. Which is precisely why its transition into a television product demands something more than repackaging. “We are not simply repackaging shooting — we are redesigning it for a broadcast audience,” said Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, president of the National Rifle Association of India.

Reimagining the sport

At the core of this redesign is a shift in how shooting is experienced. Traditionally an individual, technique-driven discipline, the SLI will present it as a team-based contest, one that introduces narrative, rivalry, and continuity across matches. The league will feature mixed team events across pistol (10m, 25m), rifle (10m, 50m 3-positions), and shotgun (trap, skeet). Six teams of 12 players each will be divided into two pools, followed by knockout rounds. Players will be drafted across four categories, elite champions, world elite, national champions, and junior/youth, ensuring a balanced mix within each franchise. “By bringing together multiple disciplines within a single match, introducing team strategy, and creating identifiable franchise identities, we are shifting the focus from isolated performances to a collective, high-pressure contest,” Deo explained. To further enhance its appeal, the league is also set to introduce spectator-friendly innovations. Concepts such as ‘Distraction’ — featuring loud music and shifting lights — will test the focus of air rifle shooters, while ‘Brave the Elements’ will simulate crosswinds and rain for shotgun events, adding an extra layer of unpredictability. SLI will comprise six teams of 12 players each

The timing of a transition

Launched in 2024, the SLI has already seen multiple scheduling shifts, from an initial March 2025 window to later timelines, with its debut now expected this year. Despite the delays, the NRAI maintains that the timing is deliberate. “India has emerged as one of the strongest shooting nations globally, with a deep pipeline of talent across senior and junior levels,” Deo said. “However, what has been missing is a structured, commercially viable platform that connects this excellence to a wider audience.” That gap — between global success and domestic visibility — has long defined Indian shooting. The country consistently produces world champions and Olympic medallists, yet its athletes remain largely invisible outside marquee events. The SLI, therefore, positions itself as more than just a competition. “As the NRAI completes 75 years, SLI represents a natural next step — moving from success at the elite level to building a sustainable ecosystem that supports athletes, engages fans, and attracts investment into the sport,” he added.

Selling silence

The central question remains: can a sport built on silence translate into something that resonates with a mass audience? The answer, according to the league’s architects, lies as much in presentation as in structure. Beyond format changes, the NRAI is working on technical innovations — immersive camera angles, real-time data insights ranging from shot metrics to heart-rate tracking, and gamified graphics — aimed at making the viewing experience more engaging. “Importantly, we are working closely with broadcast and production teams to ensure that the viewing experience is intuitive and engaging — from simplified scoring presentation to enhanced visual storytelling,” Deo said. This is where the league model exerts its greatest influence. It forces sports to rethink not just how they are played, but how they are seen. Yet, the intent is not to dilute the sport. “This allows us to retain the precision and excellence of the sport, while making it accessible and compelling for a mainstream television audience, beyond just Olympic moments,” he said.

Getting everyone on board

Even the most successful leagues in India faced early resistance. The IPL itself took years to materialise, while the Pro Kabaddi League required sustained effort to gain stakeholder confidence. For shooting, clarity of vision appears to have been key. “What resonated most with stakeholders is that SLI is being built with a clear long-term vision and structure,” Deo said. “This is not a short-term, event-led initiative — it is designed as a sustainable sports property.” From a franchise perspective, the league offers ownership and the opportunity to build a new sporting category. For athletes, it promises increased exposure, financial support, and access to high-performance environments alongside international shooters. “Crucially, stakeholders also recognise that shooting offers a differentiated product — precision, pressure, and moments of high intensity — which, when presented correctly, has strong potential as a television and digital sport,” he added.

The ultimate test

At one level, the SLI offers visibility — a stage for India’s accomplished shooters beyond the Olympic spotlight, and an entry point for emerging talent. At another, it is testing something more fundamental. Whether a sport so deeply rooted in precision and quiet can successfully adapt to a format built on narrative, pace, and audience engagement. If it works — if viewers begin to follow teams, anticipate match-ups, and respond to moments that once passed in near silence — it could redefine not just the future of shooting in India, but the outer limits of what a sports league can achieve. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Aratrick Mondal Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More Shooting Stay updated with the latest sports news, including latest headlines and updates from the Olympics 2024, where Indian athletes will compete for glory in Paris. Catch all the action from tennis Grand Slam tournaments, follow your favourite football teams and players with the latest match results, and get the latest on international hockey tournaments and series. News/Sports/Others/Can Shooting Become India’s Next TV Sport? See Less

Over the past decade, the Indian sporting ecosystem has quietly undergone a shift. Inspired by the rise and razzmatazz of the Indian Premier League, multiple disciplines have ventured into the franchise league model.

From kabaddi and kho kho to badminton, hockey, rugby, and even new-age sports like pickleball, competitions once confined to federation calendars are now being transformed into prime-time properties — altering how they are played, packaged, and consumed.

That experiment has now arrived at one of its most unlikely frontiers: shooting.

The Shooting League of India (SLI) is not just another addition to this ecosystem. In many ways, it is the most ambitious test yet of whether a league format can fundamentally reimagine a sport that has traditionally resisted spectacle.

Because unlike other sports that have successfully made the leap, shooting starts from a very different place.

Kabaddi and kho kho bring raw physicality. Football, badminton, and tennis carry familiarity. Pickleball found an audience even before its formal structure, thanks to social media. Shooting, however, has none of these advantages. It is a sport of stillness, precision, and margins invisible to the naked eye.

Which is precisely why its transition into a television product demands something more than repackaging.

“We are not simply repackaging shooting — we are redesigning it for a broadcast audience,” said Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, president of the National Rifle Association of India.

Traditionally an individual, technique-driven discipline, the SLI will present it as a team-based contest, one that introduces narrative, rivalry, and continuity across matches.

The league will feature mixed team events across pistol (10m, 25m), rifle (10m, 50m 3-positions), and shotgun (trap, skeet). Six teams of 12 players each will be divided into two pools, followed by knockout rounds.

Players will be drafted across four categories, elite champions, world elite, national champions, and junior/youth, ensuring a balanced mix within each franchise.

“By bringing together multiple disciplines within a single match, introducing team strategy, and creating identifiable franchise identities, we are shifting the focus from isolated performances to a collective, high-pressure contest,” Deo explained.

To further enhance its appeal, the league is also set to introduce spectator-friendly innovations.

Concepts such as ‘Distraction’ — featuring loud music and shifting lights — will test the focus of air rifle shooters, while ‘Brave the Elements’ will simulate crosswinds and rain for shotgun events, adding an extra layer of unpredictability.

Despite the delays, the NRAI maintains that the timing is deliberate.

“India has emerged as one of the strongest shooting nations globally, with a deep pipeline of talent across senior and junior levels,” Deo said. “However, what has been missing is a structured, commercially viable platform that connects this excellence to a wider audience.”

That gap — between global success and domestic visibility — has long defined Indian shooting. The country consistently produces world champions and Olympic medallists, yet its athletes remain largely invisible outside marquee events.

The SLI, therefore, positions itself as more than just a competition.

“As the NRAI completes 75 years, SLI represents a natural next step — moving from success at the elite level to building a sustainable ecosystem that supports athletes, engages fans, and attracts investment into the sport,” he added.

The answer, according to the league’s architects, lies as much in presentation as in structure.

Beyond format changes, the NRAI is working on technical innovations — immersive camera angles, real-time data insights ranging from shot metrics to heart-rate tracking, and gamified graphics — aimed at making the viewing experience more engaging.

“Importantly, we are working closely with broadcast and production teams to ensure that the viewing experience is intuitive and engaging — from simplified scoring presentation to enhanced visual storytelling,” Deo said.

This is where the league model exerts its greatest influence. It forces sports to rethink not just how they are played, but how they are seen.

Yet, the intent is not to dilute the sport.

“This allows us to retain the precision and excellence of the sport, while making it accessible and compelling for a mainstream television audience, beyond just Olympic moments,” he said.

For shooting, clarity of vision appears to have been key.

“What resonated most with stakeholders is that SLI is being built with a clear long-term vision and structure,” Deo said. “This is not a short-term, event-led initiative — it is designed as a sustainable sports property.”

From a franchise perspective, the league offers ownership and the opportunity to build a new sporting category. For athletes, it promises increased exposure, financial support, and access to high-performance environments alongside international shooters.

“Crucially, stakeholders also recognise that shooting offers a differentiated product — precision, pressure, and moments of high intensity — which, when presented correctly, has strong potential as a television and digital sport,” he added.

At another, it is testing something more fundamental.

Whether a sport so deeply rooted in precision and quiet can successfully adapt to a format built on narrative, pace, and audience engagement.

If it works — if viewers begin to follow teams, anticipate match-ups, and respond to moments that once passed in near silence — it could redefine not just the future of shooting in India, but the outer limits of what a sports league can achieve.

Source: HindustanTimes
Related Posts: India set to formally get hosting rights at Commonwealth Sport’s General Assembly BMW X3 30 XDrive M Sport Pro India launch India Women To Sport Pink Jerseys In ODI Decider Vs Australia For Breast Cancer Awareness The extreme highs and lows of sport in India in 2025 Mumbai Man Compares Travelling In Local Train To Olympic Sport JKC Sports makes formal debut with multi-sport ambition US-Israel conflict with Iran hits sport The wide, varied, wonderful world of sport State cricket associations need to initiate reforms in sport's interest Indoor Sport