A 12‑member Indian shotgun squad is set to compete in the year’s second ISSF World Cup Shotgun stage in Almaty, Kazakhstan, beginning with team arrivals on Saturday. The event will feature 284 athletes from 42 national Olympic committees, with eight Indian shooters participating as RPO (ranking points only) competitors.
Competitions open on May 4 with men’s and women’s skeet qualifiers, followed by finals the next day. The trap finals are scheduled for May 9, while the mixed team trap final will conclude the 10‑day roster on May 10. India’s squad began its international season in Tangier, Morocco, in March. Day one in Almaty will see Olympians Mairaj Ahmad Khan, Anantjeet Singh Naruka, and Raiza Dhillon in action, marking their first international appearance this year.
Indian shooters will face stiff competition from powerhouse nations including Italy, Finland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Greece, Peru, and Qatar. Hosts Kazakhstan, alongside strong contingents from China and Russia (entered as Individual Neutral Athletes), add to the challenge. Officials emphasized that Indian athletes will need to be at their very best to secure podium finishes in this highly competitive field.