State’s shooting star

Bhanu P Lohumi

Pratha Dhandia — a Class X student of Loreto Convent Tara Hall School, Shimla, has brought laurels to the state by qualifying for the international shooting championship in 10-metre air rifle shooting competition in the youth category.

Pratha, who tried her fingers on trigger as a hobby at the Indira Gandhi Sports complex two years ago, won the gold medal at state championship held in Rohru last year and retained her title in the state championship held in Nahan this year.  She achieved the qualifying score of 363 out of 400 in 10-m shooting competition in youth category in Chennai and also qualified the 60 second national shooting championship held in Kerala this year and scored 582 out of 600. 

Pratha has bagged the title of renowned short shooter and would participate to improving her score in the Indian team going for international championship, says her coach Ravinder Kumar.  “I started shooting as a hobby, but I was quite inclined towards the sport and gradually started doing well,” says Pratha, who credited her parents, coach and especially the principal and teachers for her success, for allowing her to go for training sessions.

“My cherished dream is to participate in Commonwealth games and Olympics and win a medal for the nation,” she said, adding that it was an expensive game and anybody who could afford should definitely try their hands in it.

“The game is very costly and an air rifle costs about Rs 2.20 lakh,” says her father Manohar, who runs a hair salon in the city. “We will request the state government to provide more guns for shooting in the sports complex as the guns already being used are old and not in a very good condition,” he said.

“The score of kids will improve if the government provides TA/DA to coaches for accompanying shooters in competitions, as they would be able to guide them better and support them,” he feels.