Technology, Animation Can Draw More Viewers to Shooting League of India: Ronak Pandit
Ronak Pandit, the High-Performance Manager of the Indian shooting team, feels that technology and animation can help boost the audience base for the Shooting League of India, which is set to debut in November 2025.
Speaking on the sidelines of the national shooting camp in Dehradun in July, the former India shooter and pistol coach said that technology and animation could act as major tools to present the sport in a fresh and appealing format.
“People often consider shooting a very technical and dull sport. We have to make it more entertaining and bring animation into the mix. Through technology and animation, we can simplify and explain the sport to the general public in an engaging way,” said Pandit.
“The public needs to be informed about the various elements of shooting, but in a non-technical manner. With the help of animation, we can ensure people understand the process, instead of imagining it on their own. When they haven’t seen something, it becomes harder to grasp,” the 40-year-old added.
The Shooting League of India, the country’s first-ever franchise-based professional shooting tournament, received approval from the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) earlier this year and has already earned support from the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF).
Pandit stressed that the league must attract widespread engagement to become attractive for investors and stay sustainable in the long run.
“To ensure long-term sustainability, the league must provide good returns to those investing in it. Ultimately, everything depends on the number of viewers and mass engagement. Viewership alone is not enough. People also need to experience it. We have to find ways to make the sport enjoyable and easily understandable for the common public,” he explained.
The first edition of the league will feature mixed team events in pistol (10m, 25m), rifle (10m, 50m 3P), and shotgun (Trap & Skeet) categories. Athletes will be divided into four tiers — Elite Champions, World Elite, National Champions, and Junior & Youth Champions — to ensure a diverse mix of experienced and upcoming talent.
Sharing insights on the mindset of Indian audiences, Pandit elaborated on why the league must aim to be a source of “meaningful entertainment.”
“Shooting is not usually seen as a spectator-friendly sport, but people tune in during the Olympics. Their emotional interest lies in seeing the Indian team win medals. However, with the league, we must go beyond just national pride,” he said.
“Even moviegoers in India watch films like Tom Cruise’s ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ because they find it thrilling. We must present this league in a similar way—by using technology to build suspense and emotion around each shot. For example, as soon as a shooter lifts the gun, we can use tech to show their mindset and provide statistics on their chances with different types of shots. Such methods will help us connect better with the audience,” said Pandit.
The first season of the Shooting League of India will be held at the Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi, with dates allocated by the ISSF from November 20, 2025, to December 2, 2025.
