Vidarbha Shooters Make Their Mark at 68th National Shooting Championships
The 68th National Shooting Championships, held recently in New Delhi and Bhopal across various categories, witnessed strong performances from shooters representing the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. Among them, Krishan Shelke from Amravati and Prerna More from Chandrapur stood out with their notable achievements, highlighting the growing talent pool in this part of India.
Expanded Participation Across Events
Shooters enrolled with the Nagpur District Rifle Association (NDRA) participated in nearly every event of the nationals, showcasing a significant expansion in their competitive scope. This included:
- 50m men's rifle events
- Shotgun events such as trap shooting and double trap
- 25m pistol competitions
In the past, shooters from Nagpur and nearby districts primarily focused on air rifle and pistol events. However, thanks to the consistent efforts and expert guidance provided by NDRA, young athletes now have the opportunity to compete in firearm events as well, broadening their skills and exposure.
Key Performances and Near Misses
Although no Nagpur-based shooter secured a medal this time, their contributions were pivotal. Krishan Shelke, trained under NDRA coaches, played a crucial role in helping Maharashtra win the team gold in the 50m men's rifle event. The title-winning team comprised Shelke, Vedant Waghmare, and Gaurav Desale. Vedant scored 623 points, while Krishna achieved a personal best of 617.2 points, and Gaurav fired 615.6 points, collectively securing the junior gold medal in the 50m rifle prone category.
From Chandrapur, Prerna More delivered an impressive performance in the 10m air rifle women's event, scoring 632.50 points to advance to the final round among the top eight shooters. According to NDRA Secretary Chandrakant Deshmukh, she narrowly missed a podium finish, underscoring the high level of competition at the championships.
Broad Representation from Vidarbha
The participation extended beyond these standout performers, with numerous shooters from Vidarbha and Nagpur taking part in both junior and senior categories of the national championship. The list of participants included:
- Ayush Deshmukh
- Aryan Rajurkar
- Abhijeet Deshmukh
- Devank Chaturvedi
- Samiksha Narsinghkar
- Ananya Naidu
- Aarohi Kutamate
- Pooja Yadav
- Naina Chaudhari
- Kaiwalya Lande
- Krushna Mohod
- Vedhiraj Rathod
- Soham Bagde
- Pratham Dadmal
- Sumit Janbandhu
- Davashish Barewan
- Adnan Ali
- Nakul Tanwar
- Prerna Yadav
- Reenu Sachdwa
This widespread involvement reflects the dedication and hard work of these athletes, who competed in air rifle, pistol, shotgun, and firearm events. While they missed podium finishes by a whisker, their performances signal a promising future for shooting sports in the Vidarbha region, driven by NDRA's initiatives and the shooters' relentless pursuit of excellence.
