Mangaluru: The Mangalore Rifle Club has announced the second edition of the Mangalore Open Shooting Championship 2026, which will be held in the city from May 26 to 30, bringing together hundreds of shooters from across the country.

Addressing a press conference, founder secretary Mukesh Kumar said the qualification rounds will take place at the club premises at Jugul Towers in Kadri Mallikatte, while the finals will be conducted at the US Mallya Indoor Stadium.

Founded in 2017, the Mangalore Rifle Club specialises in 10-metre Air Rifle and Air Pistol training and has trained 32 national-level shooters so far, helping promote shooting sports in the coastal region.

More than 450 shooters from different states are expected to participate in this year’s championship. The event aims to encourage shooting sports at the grassroots level and provide young athletes with a competitive platform to showcase their talent.

International-level shooters from Karnataka will also participate in the championship and will be felicitated during the event to inspire aspiring sportspersons.

Mukesh Kumar said special focus has been given to participation from the Indian Armed Forces. Shooting athletes from the Indian Army have been invited, and a separate programme will be organised to honour their achievements and contribution to the sport.

He added that extensive arrangements are being made to ensure a high-quality competition experience and further strengthen the culture of shooting sports in Mangaluru.

“We want to encourage emerging talent and help them excel at national and international levels,” he said.