M S Nazki
By M S Nazki
Once again I will start this one with a short story that would add the necessary flavor to this story!
-The story of Aneesha Sharma, a young shooter from Bishnah in Jammu, is a remarkable example of talent and dedication rising from Jammu & Kashmir. Born to a banker and a teacher, Aneesha began her shooting journey in 2018 while in the 7th grade, turning a school activity into a passion for professional 10-meter air rifle shooting.
-Key Details of Aneesha’s Journey:
-Rapid Rise: Aneesha developed her skills at the Mission Olympics Shooting Academy Jammu (MOSAJ) under coaches Vishal Mehra and Aman Singh.
-National Success: She has won multiple medals, including individual gold in senior and junior categories at the 21st All India Kumar Surendra Singh Memorial Shooting Championship.
-Historic Achievement: In 2023, she became the first female shooter from J&K to represent India at the Asian Shooting Championship, winning a team bronze in the Youth Women’s Rifle category in Changwon, South Korea.
-Consistency: She consistently ranks among the top junior shooters in India, with scores frequently exceeding 630 in selection trials, including a silver at the 2025 Sports For All Shooting Championship.
-Overcoming Challenges”
-Aneesha’s journey was not without obstacles. Early in her career, she did not own a personal weapon and had to borrow one from an army friend to practice. Her coaches, Vishal Mehra and Aman Singh, praised her relentless hard work, focusing on the “bull’s eye”.
-Aneesha is seen as a role model, proving that young athletes from the region can compete at the highest levels with proper focus, support, and training.
If you would like to explore more about her training, or other rising female athletes from Jammu and Kashmir, let me know…………!
-Just a few we got for writing this story:
- General Officer Commanding 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 felicitates the Officers & coaching staff of its Air Weapon Shooting Team for their superlative performance in 𝟏𝟗𝐭𝐡 𝐆𝐞𝐧 𝐉𝐉 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐢𝐫 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 #𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 and winning the prestigious Inter Command Trophy besides individual medals.
-But what is Air shooting all about:
-Air weapon shooting involves using air-powered rifles or pistols to launch projectiles (usually pellets) using compressed air, CO2, or nitrogen, rather than gunpowder. It is a popular sport for hunting, pest control, recreational “plinking,” and Olympic precision competition, requiring high concentration and accuracy from distances like 10 meters.
-Key Aspects of Air Weapon Shooting:
-Disciplines: Competitive shooting includes the Olympics!
-Air rifle and pistol, as well as field target (FT) shooting at animal-shaped targets.
-Types of Air Guns: Common types include break-barrel spring/gas piston, PCP (Pre-Charged Pneumatic), and CO2 guns, with .177 caliber being the most common for competition.
-Mechanism: When the trigger is pulled, a piston (or valve) releases compressed air or gas, pushing the pellet through the barrel.
-Precision and Competition: 10-meter air rifle involves shooting at a
-“ten” rings, often in a standing position. Electronic, acoustic-based target systems are increasingly common in competition.
-Safety and Regulation: Air weapons are considered, in some places, to be restricted firearms. Safety precautions are essential due to their capability for pest control or hunting.
-About General JJ Singh:
-General JJ Singh’s fondness for air weapon shooting stemmed from his commitment to enhancing marksmanship, focus, and precision within the Indian Army.
- As a keen shooter himself, he championed the sport to train young officers, which led to the creation of the annual General JJ Singh Officers Air Weapon Shooting Championship to nurture talent in air rifle and pistol.
-Key aspects of his involvement in air weapon shooting include:
-Promoting Accuracy: The championship was instituted to improve essential shooting skills, specifically focusing on 10-meter air rifle and air pistol disciplines.
-Developing Young Talent: The goal was to identify, train, and mentor talented young male and female officers for national and international competitions.
-Encouraging Competitive Spirit: The tournament (e.g., 16th Gen JJ Singh Shooting Championship) serves as a platform to foster a competitive spirit and excellence among various Army commands.
-Personal Passion: General JJ Singh was described as an ace shooter and an enthusiastic participant in sports, which contributed to his support for this disciplined activity.
The championship, such as the 19th edition in 2026, has become a significant event for training, with top performances reported from Commands like the Northern Command.
-General Joginder Jaswant Singh, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC, is a retired Indian Army officer who served as the 21st Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) from 2005 to 2007. As the first Sikh to lead the Indian Army, he is recognized for his extensive counter-insurgency expertise, notably creating the “Iron Fist in Velvet Glove” doctrine. He later served as the 13th Governor of Arunachal Pradesh.
-Military Career and Key Roles:
-Commissioning: Commissioned into the 9 Maratha Light Infantry (MLI) in 1964, a regiment he later commanded.
-Army Leadership: Served as the Chief of Army Staff from 31 January 2005 to 30 September 2007.
-Key Appointments: He was the first Defence Attaché in Algeria and served as the Additional Director General of Military Operations (ADGMO) during the 1999 Kargil conflict.
-Command Experience: Commanded a Mountain Brigade in Baramulla, a Division in the Western Sector, and the Chandimandir-based Western Army Command.
-Major Contributions & Achievements
-Counter-Insurgency Expert: Developed the “Iron Fist in Velvet Glove” approach to handle insurgency.
-Modernization: Focused on upgrading the Army’s equipment and operational capabilities.
-Authorship: Wrote his autobiography, A Soldier’s General, and a book on international relations, The McMahon Line-A Century of Discord.
-Post-Retirement & Public Life
-Governor: Served as the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh from 26 January 2008 to 28 May 2013.
Air weapon shooting in India is a popular sport and hobby, with .177 caliber (4.5mm) air rifles and pistols widely available without a license for target practice and recreational shooting. Popular brands like Precihole, Diana, and Umarex are used, with prices ranging from ₹9,000 for basic rifles to over ₹1,00,000 for advanced CO2 or PCP models………
-Key Aspects of Air Weapons in India:
-Licensing: Under the Indian Arms Act, air weapons with a caliber of .177 (4.5mm) do not require a license.
-Safety & Usage: They are primarily used for target shooting, competition training, and casual plinking.
-Safety Warning: Despite being non-lethal, improper use causing serious harm is legally punishable, and they should never be pointed at people or animals.
-Competitive Shooting: The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) organizes national-level air weapon competitions.
-Common Air Gun Types:
-PCP (Pre-Charged Pneumatic): Highly accurate, used for competition (e.g., Precihole PX100).
-Break Barrel (Spring/Nitro Piston): Common for beginners and practice (e.g., Precihole NX200).
-CO2 Air Guns: Often used for realistic, semi-automatic action (e.g., Umarex Beretta/Glock).
-Olympic sport:
Air weapons shooting in the Olympics consists of 10m precision events for air rifle and air pistol, utilizing
-Calibre pellets. These events are held over 60 shots from a standing position, requiring immense concentration and precision to hit targets with a 0.5mm center ring from 10 meters away.
-Key Olympic Air Weapon Events
-10m Air Rifle: Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed Team events, standing position.
-10m Air Pistol: Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed Team events, standing position.
-Event Details and Rules
-Distance: The target is 10 meters away.
-Equipment: 4.5 mm (.177 cal) single-shot air rifles or air pistols with flat-headed wadcutter pellets.
-Qualification & Finals: Competitors fire 60 shots in qualifying, with the top 8 advancing to the final, where the maximum score per shot is 10.9.
-Scoring: The center “10” ring is only 0.5 mm in diameter.
-Recent Records (As of Paris 2024)
-Men’s 10m Air Rifle (Final): Sheng Lihao (CHN) – 252.2.
-Women’s 10m Air Rifle (Final): Qian Yang (CHN), Huang Yuting (CHN), and Ban Hyojin (KOR) – 251.8.
-Men’s 10m Air Pistol (Final): Javad Foroughi (IRI) – 244.8.
-Women’s 10m Air Pistol (Final): Oh Ye Jin (KOR) – 243.2.
Men from India have consistently excelled in international air weapon (air rifle and air pistol) shooting, with a new generation of shooters dominating the ISSF World Cups and Asian Championships in 2024–2026.
-Key Indian male air weapon shooters who have achieved high-level success recently include:
-Air Rifle (10m): Rudrankksh Patil: A standout shooter who became World No. 1 in 10m air rifle in 2022. He won Gold at the 10m air rifle event at the 2026 Asian Shooting Championships in New Delhi, ending a seven-year gold drought for India in that specific championship event. He also won gold at the 2022 World Championship and is a regular medallist at ISSF World Cups.
-Arjun Babuta: A top contender who won individual Silver in 10m air rifle at the 2026 Asian Shooting Championships and secured multiple silver medals in ISSF World Cups (Lima 2024/2025). He also won Gold in the 10m air rifle mixed team at the 2026 Asian Championships.
-Divyansh Singh Panwar: Achieved a new world record of 253.7 in the 10m air rifle final at the 2024 ISSF World Cup in Cairo and has been a consistent performer at the top level.
-Sandeep Singh: Topped the men’s 10m air rifle selections for the Paris 2024 Olympics, demonstrating high consistency.
-Air Pistol (10m)
-Samrat Rana: A 20-year-old talent who created history by winning Gold in the Men’s 10m air pistol at the 2025 ISSF World Championship in Cairo, his second senior international appearance. He also secured Bronze in the 10m air pistol at the 2026 Asian Championships.
-Saurabh Chaudhary: A shooting prodigy and 2018 Asian Games gold medallist who returned to form in 2025, setting a new national record of 591 in national selection trials.
-Mukesh Nelavalli: A rising star who won the Gold Medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team at the ISSF World Cup 2026 in Granada, setting a new Junior World Record.
-Varun Tomar: Won Bronze at the 2025 World Championship (double podium with Samrat Rana) and is a consistent performer in national trials, winning both senior and junior 10m air pistol titles at the 67th National Shooting Championship.
-Sarabjot Singh: A key member of the 10m air pistol team, winning a Bronze medal at the 2023 Asian Games and consistently ranking within the top 12 globally.
Historical Excellence
-Abhinav Bindra: India’s first-ever individual Olympic gold medallist (10m air rifle, 2008 Beijing).
-Gagan Narang: 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist in 10m air rifle.
These shooters have helped India establish a strong presence on the global shooting map, particularly in the 10m air rifle and air pistol disciplines.
-Indian women have consistently excelled in international air weapon shooting, particularly in the 10m Air Rifle and 10m Air Pistol disciplines, with recent stars dominating ISSF World Cups and Asian Championships in 2025 and 2026.
-Key Indian women who have excelled in air weapon shooting include:
-Air Pistol (10m)
-Esha Singh: A trailblazing teenager who became the youngest national champion in 2018. As of April 2026, she is a multiple Asian Games medalist and recently clinched the individual gold at the 2026 Asian Shooting Championships in New Delhi, leading the team to gold as well.
-Suruchi Singh (Inder Singh): In a breakthrough 2025 season, the 19-year-old became World No. 1 in the 10m Air Pistol category after winning gold at all three ISSF World Cups—Munich, Lima, and Buenos Aires—in 2025.
-Manu Bhaker: A national sensation who won two gold medals at the 2018 ISSF World Cup at age 16 and created history by winning two medals in a single Olympic edition at the 2024 Paris Olympics, including individual 10m air pistol bronze.
-Heena Sidhu: A trailblazer who was the first Indian pistol shooter to become World No. 1 (in 2014) and the first to win a gold medal at the ISSF World Cup Finals (2013).
-Yashaswini Singh Deswal: Achieved the World No. 1 ranking in 2021 after winning gold in the 10m Air Pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Rio de Janeiro.
-Palak Gulia: Part of a new wave of talent, she set a new World Record (487.7) in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event at the 2026 ISSF World Cup in Granada, Spain.
-Air Rifle (10m)
-Apurvi Chandela: Known for her consistent international podium finishes, she reached the world number one ranking and won gold at the 2019 ISSF World Cup in New Delhi with a world record score.
-Elavenil Valarivan: A former world number one, she won two gold medals in the 10m air rifle at the 2023 Asian shooting championship and continues to be ranked among the world’s top rifle shooters.
-Anjum Moudgil: A consistent performer in both air rifle and 3-position events, she became a world number two and a silver medalist at the 2018 ISSF World Championship.
-Anjali Bhagwat: Considered one of the greatest Indian athletes, she was the first Indian woman to be ranked World No. 1 in 10m Air Rifle (2002) and won over 31 gold medals.
-Avani Lekhara: A para-shooter who has made history by winning multiple Paralympic medals, including golds in 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.
-Recent Notable Performances (2025-2026):
-Shambhavi Kshirsagar: Won gold in 10m Air Rifle Junior at the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship 2026.
-Tilottama Sen: A 14-year-old who secured bronze at the 2024 Cairo World Cup.
-Narmada Nithin: Won gold at the 38th National Games in 10m Air Rifle (2025).
-The final lines as usual: Shooting has been a staple of the modern Olympic Games since 1896, included in every edition except 1904 and 1928, featuring precision rifle, pistol, and shotgun disciplines. Initially, competitions included varied, sometimes unusual events like live pigeon shooting (1900) and dueling (1906–1908), but have modernized into 15 distinct, standardized events.
-Key Historical Highlights
-1896 Athens: Shooting was part of the inaugural Games, featuring 39 shooters from seven nations in five events.
-Early Years: Many events were restricted to military weapons, and the U.S. began early domination with shooters like John and Sumner Paine.
-Women’s Inclusion: Women first competed in the previously male-dominated events in 1968, with Margaret Murdock earning the first medal (silver) in 1976.
-Separation: Separate medal events for women were introduced in 1984, leading to a fully split program by 1996.
-Modern Era: The sport has moved toward increased regulation by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), focusing on air rifle, rapid-fire pistol, and shotgun.
-Evolution (2020-2024): Mixed-team events (rifle, pistol, and trap/skeet) have been introduced to replace some former men’s-only events.
-Dominant Nations and Figures
-United States: Historically successful, with Carl Osburn holding the record for most shooting medals (11).
-Soviet Union/Eastern Europe: Dominated from the mid-20th century onwards.
-Emerging Powers: China, South Korea, and India have recently gained prominence, with India securing three medals at the 2024 Paris Games…………..!
Author
Sheikh Sameer
The Kashmir Dialogues
