Over 1500 shooters for XII Open Telangana State shooting competitions 2026

The XII Open Telangana State Shooting Competitions in Air, Small Bore and Shotgun Events – 2026, organized by the Telangana Rifle Association (TRA), were formally inaugurated at the Sports Authority of Telangana State (SATS) Shooting Range, located within the University of Hyderabad campus, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, on Saturday.

The championship was inaugurated by Amit Sanghi, senior vice president of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), president of the Telangana Rifle Association, and vice president of the Telangana Olympic Association.

Marking the official commencement of the championship, Amit Sanghi fired the ceremonial inaugural shot at the SATS Shooting Range and formally declared the competition open.

The prestigious state-level championship is being conducted from June 20 to 27, 2026, and is expected to attract participation from more than 1,500 athletes, along with coaches, family members, support staff, well-wishers and shooting enthusiasts from across Telangana and neighboring states.

Participants will compete in a wide range of Olympic and non-Olympic shooting disciplines, including: 10 metre Air Rifle, 10 metre Air Pistol, 25 metre Pistol, 50 metre Rifle, 50 metre Pistol, Open Sight Rifle, Three-Position Rifle, Trap, Skeet, Double Trap.

Shooting meet serves as a crucial steppingstone

The Telangana State Shooting Championship serves as a crucial steppingstone in the competitive pathway of aspiring shooters. Athletes achieving the prescribed Minimum Qualifying Score (MQS) during the championship will become eligible to represent Telangana at the South Zone Shooting Championship and the prestigious G V Mavalankar Shooting Championship (Pre-National Championship).

Shooters who subsequently attain the required qualifying standards at these competitions will earn eligibility to participate in the National Shooting Championships, making the State Championship a vital platform for talent identification, performance assessment and preparation for higher levels of competition.

Addressing the participating athletes during the inaugural ceremony, Amit Sanghi said: “Shooting sport demands discipline, concentration, patience, consistency and exceptional mental strength. Every athlete must approach the firing point with confidence, respect the rules of the sport and trust the training and preparation that have brought them to this championship. Every shot is a fresh opportunity, and every competition is another important step towards achieving excellence.”

Encouraging both emerging and experienced shooters, he further stated: “Focus on the process, respect the target and allow consistency to create the result.”

Sanghi conveyed his best wishes to all participating athletes and expressed confidence that the championship would provide a professionally managed and highly competitive platform for shooters to demonstrate their abilities, achieve qualifying scores and advance to higher levels of national competition.

The championship is being conducted strictly in accordance with the rules and regulations of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI). Qualified juries, range officers, certified coaches, technical personnel and experienced competition-management teams have been deployed to ensure fairness, transparency, safety and the professional conduct of all events.

The Telangana Rifle Association expressed its sincere appreciation to the Sports Authority of Telangana State (SATS), the University of Hyderabad, NRAI officials, juries, coaches, technical experts, volunteers, supporting organizations and sponsors for their continued support in promoting and developing shooting sport across Telangana.

With participation from a large number of talented shooters and the presence of experienced officials, the championship is expected to play a significant role in strengthening Telangana’s position as an emerging powerhouse in Indian shooting sports.