At an early morning training session at the Olympic-standard shooting range in Pune, in Maharashtra state, the facility was abuzz with the idea that India is determined to land the Summer Games in 2036.

"Getting the Olympics, it's a massive stage. There's nothing beyond it," said Shahu Mane, a former World Cup champion in the 10-metre air pistol mixed event.

"The government is trying everything to build up," said Mane, who is also a former Youth Olympic Games silver medallist. "So it would impact the country and [my] sport in a good way."

An Indian delegation visited the Lausanne headquarters of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in July to officially pitch Ahmedabad, the largest city in the western state of Gujarat, as the host city for India's 2036 bid. A final decision likely won't be made before late 2027.

Even before the IOC presentation, Indian officials had spent two years quietly working on their charm offensive and pitch.

In 2024, during a high-profile speech to celebrate the country's independence day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that hosting "the 2036 Olympics on Indian soil" was a key goal for his government, and cited the successful G20 summit the year prior as proof that India could organize any major international event.

But there are significant hurdles to India's longstanding ambitions, including persistent questions over mismanagement and governance issues within the country's Olympic Association, as well as low medal counts at previous Games.

India's Prime Min