India’s top 20 shooters in 10m Air Rifle will participate in the 16th Lakshya Cup at the Lakshya Shooting Club, Karnala Sports Academy, in Navi Mumbai. The tournament, scheduled from February 21 to 22, aims to prepare shooters for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan. The event will feature leading junior and senior athletes competing under international standards, with equal opportunities for men and women.
Contenders like Kiran Jadhav, Sonam Maskar, Parth Mane, Rajshree Sancheti, and Ojasvi Thakur will vie for top honors at the Lakshya Cup. The Senior Champion will receive ₹1.5 lakh and a rotating Silver Trophy, currently held by Kiran Jadhav. The Junior Champion stands to win ₹75,000, along with cash prizes for other podium finishers and shooting equipment.
Established in 2006, the Lakshya Shooting Club introduced the Lakshya Cup in 2009 to provide structured exposure for emerging and elite shooters. The tournament, conceptualized by Olympian Suma Shirur, has evolved into a prestigious rifle competition in India. Suma Shirur emphasized the importance of competitive pressure in building high performance among athletes.
The Lakshya Cup promotes gender parity, with women and men, as well as girls and boys, competing for the same podium positions. The event aligns with the global trend in shooting sports, emphasizing skill and focus. The finals will take place on February 22, with the Prize Distribution Ceremony following in the evening.
