Daijiworld Media Network - Panvel
Panvel, Feb 19: India’s top 20-ranked 10m Air Rifle shooters will compete at the 16th RR Lakshya Cup 2025, powered by RR Global, at the Lakshya Shooting Club, Karnala Sports Academy, Panvel, Navi Mumbai, on February 21 and 22.
The invitation-only tournament will bring together leading junior and senior athletes in a professionally conducted competition aligned with international standards. The event will feature equal podium opportunities for men and women, along with prize money and equipment awards for top finishers.
Among the top contenders are Kiran Jadhav (reigning National Champion and World Championship medallist), Sonam Maskar (ISSF World Cup medallist), Parth Mane (reigning National Games Champion and Junior World Champion), Rajshree Sancheti (former National Champion), and Ojasvi Thakur (Asian Championships Youth gold medallist).
The Senior Champion will receive Rs 1.5 lakh and the rotating Silver Trophy, currently held by Kiran Jadhav of the Navy. The Junior Champion will be awarded Rs 75,000, with additional cash prizes for other podium finishers. Athletes will also be eligible to win shooting equipment and accessories from event partners.
Founded in 2006, Lakshya Shooting Club introduced the Lakshya Cup in 2009 as an intra-club event. Conceptualised by Olympian and Arjuna Awardee Suma Shirur, the Founder and High-Performance Director of the club, the competition has evolved since 2016 into one of India’s most respected invitation-only rifle tournaments.
Speaking ahead of the 16th edition, Shirur said, “The Lakshya Cup was created to prepare Indian rifle shooters for the demands of international sport. High performance is built through structure, discipline and exposure to competitive pressure. This platform challenges athletes to perform with composure and consistency at the highest level.”
Finals will be held on February 22, with the Junior 10m Air Rifle Final at 2:00 PM, followed by the Senior 10m Air Rifle Final at 3:30 PM. The prize distribution ceremony will take place at 5:30 PM.
A defining feature of the Lakshya Cup since its inception has been gender parity, with women and men in the senior category, and girls and boys in the junior category, competing together for the same podium positions. The format reflects the sport’s global direction, including mixed team events at the Olympic level.
The tournament acknowledges the support of the National Rifle Association of India and the Maharashtra Rifle Association, along with several corporate partners.
The 10m Air Rifle discipline gained national prominence after Abhinav Bindra won India’s first individual Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Through structured competition and professional management, the Lakshya Cup aims to strengthen India’s high-performance shooting ecosystem.