Mushrooming shooting ranges across the country is the first step to the national team for potential shooters.
Navneet Singh
A short summer camp in Bengaluru turned out to be a good platform for rifle shooter Anushka Thokur to get passionately involved in target shooting. That was three years ago.
On Thursday on the opening day of the ISSF Junior World Cup here at Delhi’s Dr Karni Singh Shooting Ranges, Anushka made a statement by winning first position in the women’s 50m rifle prone individual event with a score of 621.6 points.
The 18 years old shooter told SportsBackstory.com that none of her family members are into sports. “I just started target shooting randomly during a summer camp in Bengaluru. It has been three long years since I’ve been deeply involved in the shooting sport,” the gold medal winner said in the post-match interaction.
India’s Anshika and Aadhya Agarwal won silver and bronze, respectively, in the opening event of the day. In the men’s 50m rifle prone individual event, India won silver and bronze.
The promising shooter (Anushka), says India’s junior national rifle team coach Sanjeev Rajput, has potential to excel at senior level. “During camp the main focus is on technique so that shooters have a strong foundation,” Rajput added.
When not in national camp, Anushka practices in Chennai.
Anushka’s journey into target shooting depicts that there is an abundance of talent yet no system to scout potential athletes in the country. Initially with support from family, the youngsters learn fundamentals of the sport at a local range.
The growth of shooting ranges, including air weapon, across the country are playing a major role in giving the right kind of environment in the formative years of training.
Later, some of the shooters perform well at the nationals and earn a place in the national team.
Results: Women: 50m rifle prone individual: Anushka Thokur (India) 621.6, Anshika (India) 619.2, Aadhya Agarwal (India) 615.9.
Men: 50m rifle prone individual event: Kamil Nuriakhmetov (Individual Neutral Athlete) 618.9, Deependra Singh Shekhawat (India) 617.9, Kanyan Rohit (India) 616.3
ENDS
