Tribune News Service
Jammu, May 18
The J&K Rifle Association (JKRA) will soon have its own shooting range of international standards at the Maulana Azad (MA) Stadium in Jammu.
Kuldeep Singh Jamwal, JKRA president, on Friday said the J&K State Sports Council had allotted a piece of land to the JKRA for constructing a shooting range of international standards at the MA Stadium. However, the association does not have sufficient funds for its construction, so they have appealedto the Sports Authority of India (SAI), MLCs, Rajya Sabha members and sports lovers to come forward and contribute funds for the same, Jamwal added.
“We have won 40 medals, including 17 gold, 11 silver and 12 bronze, since the date of the formation of the JKRA in 2005. We have achieved such success without a proper shooting range in the state. J&K has a lot of potential, but it needs proper facilities for the youth,” Jamwal said at a press conference here on Friday.
“We have got the land, but we do not have sufficient funds with us. We have sent a request to the Sports Council of India for funds and have also appealed to the MLCs and sports lovers to help us in building the future of sports in J&K,” he added.
The JKRA has made a detailed project report of Rs 5.25 crore for building the shooting range with international standards, equipment, rooms for shooters, canteen and other facilities.
The JKRA said about 20 schools were already approaching them for a shooting range, so that they could train their students over there.
So far, the state has 11 shooting ranges, including Kathua District Rifle Association, Samba District Rifle Association, Jammu District Rifle Association, Udhampur District Rifle Association, Reasi District Rifle Association, Srinagar District Rifle Association, Baramulla District Rifle Association, J&K Shooting Club at Gulshan Ground in Jammu, General Zorawar Singh Rifle Club at Bari Brahmna, Delhi Public School in Jammu and SMVD Shooting Club at Katra. However, these shooting ranges have limited facilities for the shooters of international standards.
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