India name 54-strong squad for ISSF World Championship 2026 in Doha

India have named a 54-member squad for the ISSF World Championship 2026 in Doha, with the championships scheduled to run from November 3 to November 13 at the Lusail Shooting Complex.

The event will feature more than 1,000 shooters representing 90 National Olympic Committees plus athletes competing under neutral status, and offers 36 quota places for LA 2028 — three in each of the 12 Olympic events. Quota places will be awarded to the respective countries, with final participation at LA 2028 determined by each nation's National Olympic Committee. India has entered 35 shooters in Olympic events and 19 competitors in non-Olympic disciplines.

Two-time Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker, who delivered an under-par performance at the Asian Games earlier this year, will lead the Indian contingent. Bhaker is entered in the women's 10m air pistol and 25m pistol events. The Indian federation lists her among the squad's principal rifle and pistol contenders.

Trap shooter Neeru Dhanda will be part of the Indian team after clinching two golds and a silver in trap at the Asian Games. The championships will also include Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet Sohlot, the mixed 10m air pistol gold medallists at the continental event. Elavenil Valarivan and Himanshu Dhillon, who took rifle silver at the same tournament, are among India’s entries.

Paris 2024 bronze medallist Swapnil Kusale is entered only in the non-Olympic men's 50m rifle prone event. Sarabjot Singh was not selected for the squad. The programme covers rifle, pistol and shotgun disciplines across the competition schedule.

There will be no live telecast of the ISSF World Championships 2026. In India, live coverage will be available on the ISSF YouTube channel and fans worldwide can watch finals streamed live on the ISSF YouTube channel. The competition will officially begin with the men's 10m air rifle event.

India's 54-member contingent will compete at the Lusail Shooting Complex in Doha from November 3 to November 13. For further updates, Khel Now advised followers to check its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, download its Android or iOS apps and join its WhatsApp and Telegram communities.