Military Literature Fest kicks off with a bang

Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 27

The second edition of the Military Literature Festival kicked off with the Archery and Shotgun Shooting Championship on Saturday. The event is an initiative of the Punjab Government and the Chandigarh Administration in collaboration with the Army.

The competitions saw a scintillating display of young sporting talent from across the state, capturing the essence of military’s formidable sporting culture and ethos.

A total of 150 archers from across the state, including 20 international sportspersons, vied for honours in the compound, recurve and Indian style categories at the Punjabi University Field Grounds. The championship also saw participation from World Cup Gold medallist Amanjeet Singh, Asia Cup Gold medallist Prabhjot Kaur and Asia Cup Silver winner Vikas Ranjan.

In the shotgun shooting championships, being held at New Moti Bagh Gun Club at Main village, shooters from seven other states besides Punjab competed in trap, skeet and double-trap events. As many as 40 shooters participated in the trap event, while 35 in the skeet and double-trap events.

Three international shooters—- Amarinder Cheema, Gurjot Singh and Captain PPS Guron, along with national shooters Hakikat Grewal and Mankeet Guron, were the main draws in the shotgun events.

Sanjana Sethi clinched the gold in the trap junior women category with Manraj Singh Sarao bagged the top spot in the junior men event. Inaya Vijay Singh won gold in the trap women event and Vishavdev Singh Sidhu claimed gold in the men catergory.

More than 550 persons, including school students, attended the sporting events. Director YPS Major General (Retd) Sanjiv Verma lauded the initiative and urged students to utilise these events as building blocks towards a successful career.

Highlights of the day

• Three international shooters — Amarinder Cheema, Gurjot Singh and Captain PPS Guron — and national shooters Hakikat Grewal and Mankeet Guron were the star attraction at the shotgun events.
• More than 550 persons, including school students, attended the sporting events. 
• Director YPS Major General (Retd) Sanjiv Verma lauded the initiative.