26th Women’s and 27th Men’s National Shooting Competition Concludes Successfully in Lalitpur

The International Sports Complex in Satdobato, Lalitpur, recently hosted the 26th Women’s and 27th Men’s National Shooting Competition, marking a significant milestone for the sport in Nepal. Held from 6-8 June 2026 (Jestha 23 to 25, 2083 BS), the event showcased remarkable talent and sportsmanship, bringing together top shooters from across the country.

Significance of the Handover:

The competition was officially inaugurated by Mr. Ram Charitra Mehta, Member Secretary of the National Sports Council. A key highlight of the ceremony was the formal handover of state-of-the-art shooting equipment to the Nepal Shooting Association. Funded by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Development Fund, the equipment was presented to the Association’s president, Mr. Pushpa Das Shrestha.

Closing the Technological Gap Modern shooting sports rely heavily on precision technology, including electronic target systems, ergonomic precision rifles/pistols, and specialized apparel. Access to international-standard equipment eliminates the disadvantage Nepali athletes face when stepping onto the global stage, ensuring their domestic training matches world-stage conditions.
Strengthening the Athlete Pipeline Long-term development depends on building muscle memory and fine-tuning technique on reliable, high-precision equipment from a young age. Providing proper gear at the grassroots level prevents athletes from developing compensatory habits on outdated tools, creating a sustainable route to elite international performance.
Leveraging Global Institutional Backing Direct support and recognition from the ISSF (International Shooting Sport Federation) validate Nepal’s growth potential in shooting sports. This endorsement builds institutional credibility, making it easier to secure future development grants, technical coaching clinics, and international competition hosting rights.

Event Participation and Competition:

This year’s tournament saw strong representation, featuring 71 total participants. Athletes competed across 10m Air Pistol and Air Rifle categories, including mixed team events. The lineup included 61 shooters (27 women and 34 men) representing 10 teams—comprised of 7 Provincial Shooting Teams and 3 Departmental Security Forces Shooting Teams.

Championship Results

10m Air Rifle

Women’s: Gold went to Ms. Phul Maya Kyapchhaki (Nepal Police), with Ms. Renu Koli (Nepali Army) taking Silver and Ms. Radha Gurung (Nepali Army) securing Bronze.
Men’s: Mr. Binod Basnet (Nepali Army) claimed Gold. The Silver medal was awarded to Mr. Sunil Chand (Sudurpashchim Province), and Bronze went to Mr. Bishal Paudel (Nepali Army).

10m Air Pistol

Women’s: Ms. Hema Chaudhary (Nepali Army) took the Gold. Ms. Sima Kumari Tuladhar (Nepal Police) earned Silver, and Ms. Radhika Dharti (Nepali Army) took Bronze.
Men’s: Mr. Bipesh Khadka (Bagmati Province) won Gold, followed by Mr. Sukadev Chaudhary (Nepal Police) with Silver, and Mr. Man Bahadur Ghale (Nepal Police) with Bronze.

Mixed Team Events

Air Rifle: The Nepali Army duo of Mr. Binod Basnet and Ms. Radha Gurung took the Gold.
Air Pistol: The Gold medal was awarded to the Bagmati Province team of Mr. Bipesh Khadka and Ms. Rubina Shrestha.

New National Records

The tournament was defined by exceptional performances that set new national benchmarks. Mr. Bishal Paudel established a new national record in the 10m Air Rifle event with a score of 613.3. Similarly, in the 10m Air Pistol event, Mr. Bipesh Khadka set a new record of 232.3. Both athletes were recognized by the Association with special cash awards of NPR 5,000 each.

Community and Corporate Support

The success of the competition was supported by the dedication of officials and the generosity of corporate sponsors. The Association received crucial financial backing from Prabhu Mahalaxmi Life Insurance Ltd. (NPR 50,000) and Sagarmatha Lumbini Insurance Ltd. (NPR 25,000). Additionally, Mr. Ravi Tibrewala of Rastriya Beema Sansthan Ltd. supported the promotion of the event through LED advertising at Tripureshwor Chowk.

The Nepal Shooting Association extends its sincere gratitude to the National Sports Council, the participating departmental and provincial teams, sponsors, and the dedicated jury and office bearers who ensured the event was conducted seamlessly and grandly.