The Calibre Capitals secured the bronze medal in the finals of the inaugural Shooting League of Karnataka (SLK), held on March 1. Among those representing the bronze-winning team was seasoned shotgun trap shooter Karthamada Navin Bopaiah. Shotgun trap shooter D.Y. Varun represented the Mangalore Raptors team, while skeet shooter Girish V. Punja represented Trigger Tactician. All three shooters hail from Kodagu, marking a notable representation from the district.
Trigger Tacticians shot its way to first place, while Punja secured first position in his category, skeet shooting. Bangalore Brigade finished in second place.
Navin helped his team clinch the bronze medal in a sudden-death shoot-off.
In a closely contested battle for the bronze medal, both teams – Calibre Capitals and Hubballi Shooting Stars, were tied at the end of regulation. The outcome was decided through a shotgun trap knockdown shoot-off, where Navin delivered the winning shot to secure victory for his team.
The franchise-based league, pioneered by Karnataka State Rifle Association with SLV Housing and held under the aegis of the Shooting League of India (SLI), is being hailed as a significant step forward for sport shooting in Karnataka. The initiative aims to provide structured competition and greater exposure to shooters across the region.
The participating franchises include Calibre Capitals, Trigger Action, Bangalore Brigade, Redrum, Mangalore Raptors, Top Guns, Sniper Squad and Hubballi Shooting Star.
Organizers credited the success of the event to the efforts of H. Nagaraj, Managing Director of SLV Housing Development Corporation, and his daughter Nisarga, who played a key role in supporting the initiative. The President and officials of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) officiated at the league.
