New Delhi [India], January 16 (ANI): Indian shooting legend and Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awardee Jitu Rai believes the upcoming Shooting League of India (SLI) will play a defining role in expanding the sport's reach while raising competitive standards for Indian shooters.

Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the UP Prometheans, a franchise in the SLI, Rai said the league will give shooting a powerful platform to connect elite performances with wider public engagement.

'This is a new face for shooting in India. This is a platform where people from all over the world can watch shooting. Even if you do not know much about the sport, you can still watch it and understand it. When you watch it, you start discovering your own interest and inner talent,' Rai said as per a press release.

Jitu Rai is one of India's most accomplished pistol shooters. A former world number one, he won multiple ISSF World Cup gold medals and became the first Indian pistol shooter to qualify for and reach the final of the Olympic Games, finishing a close fourth at Rio 2016.

He believes a franchise-based league like the SLI can make the sport more transparent and accessible to fans while showcasing the depth of talent and infrastructure behind competitive shooting.

'People outside the country already know a little about shooting, but inside India, many don't fully understand how the sport works, how a shot is fired, or what kind of technique and facilities are involved. Through a league like SLI, everyone will be able to see how shooting is done, what facilities exist and how the sport is being promoted,' he said.

Rai also underlined the importance of global exposure and competition, suggesting that the SLI could become a launchpad for future champions.

'The inspiring shooters will become even more motivated. Talent will come from all over the world, and Indian shooters will become more competitive. Yes, definitely, you will see world-class champions emerging from the Shooting League of India,' he added.

Rai was speaking at the UP Prometheans launch in Noida, where he also praised the franchise's high-performance shooting range and multi-sport facilities, describing them as being of the highest standard and well aligned with the league's vision of building a strong, modern shooting ecosystem.

'The shooting range here is of the highest standard. When I came to the school and saw the facilities, especially the range, along with sports like badminton and swimming, it was clear that a very strong sporting structure has been created. This kind of environment is exactly what shooting in India needs as we move into a league like the SLI,' concluded the Indian shooter.

The highly-anticipated first season will take place from February 16 to 26 in Delhi and will witness some of India's and world's best shooters play with and against each other in a franchise-based model. (ANI)