Exclusive: Olympian Suma Shirur on Shooting India League, Sports Governance Act and future of Indian shooting

The new shooting rule may not affect the Indian shooters, says Suma Shirur in an exclusive interview.

Indian shooting is currently on its best upward trajectory right now. After returning medal-less from both Tokyo and Rio Olympics, the Indian contingent bounced back strongly with three medals at Paris Olympics—including a double for Manu Bhaker.

A key factor behind this resurgence is the introduction of a more performance-based selection policy.

Moreover, the new selection policy has been a tremendous hit, as it has continuously been delivering positive results. Now, rather than relying on established names, the federation now selects shooters based on current form demonstrated in trials.

Moreover, the coaches and the federation have been working tirelessly to improve the shooting ecosystem in India.

One such name in the shooting circuit is Suma Shirur. A former Olympian herself, Shirur, is one of the most reputable voices in Indian shooting and has been working as a coach and administrator to help nurture young talent.

Khel Now had an opportunity to chat with the 51-year-old on the sidelines of an event at her academy—the Lakshya Shooting Club.

Shirur shared her thoughts about the upcoming inaugural Shooting League of India (SIL), the new Sports Governance Act and major reforms that the ISSF is set to introduce next year, especially in rifle shooting, which has sparked debates among the shooting fraternity.

Here are some excerpts from the conversation.

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A post shared by Suma Siddharth Shirur OLY (@sumashirur)

Q) Your thoughts on the inaugural Indian Shooting League, and what impact do you think it is going to have on Indian shooting?

The SIL is set to be the country’s premier franchise-based league, which will see the best of India and the World’s best shooters compete in the 11-day competition.

Suma Shirur: The Shooting League of India will be a great pathway for our athletes and for the sport itself. With greater visibility, the league can spark curiosity among Indians and sports lovers, boost popularity, and inspire more people to take up shooting at the grassroots level. It truly has the potential to shape the future of shooting in India.

Q) What do you think of the new Sports Bill? As someone who has been on both sides of the field, first as a shooter and then as an administrator, do you think the bill will help modernise the sport at all and make it more accessible to athletes?

The National Sports Governance Act 2025 aims to introduce better transparency, accountability and modernise Indian sports scene. It is also set to bring the Indian sports administration in line with global standards, ensuring that selection and appointments are made based on merit.

Suma Shirur: The Sports Bill has been long overdue and is a pioneering step towards bringing professionalism into Indian sport. For the first time, it feels truly athlete centric.

It will create fair governance and instill much-needed professionalism, and with the right implementation, it can bring about a very positive change in the country’s sporting ecosystem.

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A post shared by Lakshyan Academy of Sports (@lakshyanacademyofsports)

Q) Your thoughts on the new rule changes proposed by ISSF—the rifle 3P event to be held in standing position, as well as the clothes rule for rifle shooters?

Suma Shirur: On the 50m 3-position rifle finals, I have mixed feelings. Personally, I preferred having all three positions in the finals since not everyone excels in standing; some are stronger in prone or kneeling.

That said, limiting it to standing may not impact India much, as most of us begin with air rifle in the standing position, where we are traditionally strong.

As for the rifle clothing rule change, I agree with it. Equipment should support, not overshadow, skill. When support goes over the top, it edges towards what ISSF called ‘technological doping.’ This change, though subtle, rightly shifts the emphasis back to technique and skill, which is the essence of the sport.

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