Hito Sw
M.P.ED, NET, ISSF D Coach, Aqua-Fitness Coach,
oach at Anjali Bhagwat Shooting Academy, Pune, Maharashtra
Sports in its basic nature are cathartic. The sole objective of the Olympic Games was to create amity, understanding and brotherhood among nations. In many forms of recreational activities, human's kinesthetic movement is nurtured and developed. One of those activity-sports picking up very quickly is shooting sports in India under the wings of National Rifle Association of India. Years from now India was one country who would dream to be on top of the sports beating China and USA and today we have proudly actualize our dream-goal by winning the world cup(International Shooting Sports Federation) at Guadalajara, Mexico with the maximum medals ahead of other countries like China and USA. Surprisingly age, sex, able or disabled has no barrier to winning world cup medals or Olympic medals. Manu Bhaker of India just a 16-year-old girl won the gold medal at 10m pistol event and set the junior world record at the recently concluded world cup at Mexico 2018 and Oscar Swahn from Sweden at the age of 64 won the Olympic gold medal in 1908 Summer Olympics. Karoly Takacs a Hungarian Army who is one armed man won the Olympic medal at 25meter rapid fire pistol during 1948 and 1952.
So what is shooting and why pursue it? Shooting is a sports activity where one practice for perfection. A whole motor unit and physical anatomy of a person would have to be sharp in his awareness of senses such as touch, see, hear and breathe. Through the repeated exercise of shooting a high level of coordination is achieved for perfection in a shot release. The muscle memory registers the action of shooting into subconscious mind and disciplines the athlete. Body control and neuromuscular coordination are considered foundational to fitness for life and sports. Rather it brings out the best in an athlete. Some subjects such as strong will power, courage, determination, concentration and right attitude towards other aspects of life improve as well. After many years of shooting experience, some shooting benefits found are-
Builds physical discipline: Shooting sport can help build many physical disciplines that are not only healthy but enjoyable. Increased strength, stamina, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor skills are just a few of the physical disciplines acquired in the shooting sports that apply, not only to this sport but to all of life.
Arm strength: Shooting a gun requires strong, sturdy arms and hands; in order to aim and shoot your target, you must keep your hands and arms steady.
Improves Focus: Keeping your eyes on the target while aiming a gun requires a lot of focus. Removing your mind from any other activities, you find yourself in the present moment in which there is only one thing at hand to do, and it is straight in front of you.
Increases mental discipline: To the surprise of many, shooting sports are primarily mental sports. Experienced marksmen think sports shooting is 90% mental. Concentration levels are sharpened and expanded. Multiple problems solving activities involving logic, mathematics and creative thinking (thinking "outside the box") are needed and employed to succeed at any level of the shooting sports.
Advances personal responsibility: Personal responsibility is taught throughout the shooting sports to advance both safety and skill development. Shooting sports also cultivate personal responsibility because they are a foundation for both security and liberty in any family or nation.
Courage and confidence: For some people, shooting may seem like a very dangerous or scary thing to do. However, being trained properly is a great way to build confidence and courage.
Adrenaline: Hold a weapon and firing it can be an exhilarating thing to do! Your adrenaline will be spiked and cause a surge of energy to pulse through your blood. Increased levels of adrenalin in your blood signal your liver to break down glycogen, the substance that provides your muscles with glucose, the primary source of fuel in your body.
Physical balance: Remaining perfectly still in your shooting stance while aiming your gun at the target exercises your core muscles, which supports proper posture. When the abdominal muscles are weak, the lower back holds additional pressure and weight from simple daily tasks like walking. Strengthening the abdominal muscles allows the weight of the upper body to be evenly distributed over the front and back, improving balance.
Builds Patience: Shooting requires patience for development to takes place. Shooting is particularly useful for youngsters as it teaches them the virtue of patience at an early age.
Target shooting is a wonderful sport. It gives you the power of hitting a target accurately at a distance of event desired. Shooting sports have been planned up very well including infrastructures, coaches, with many beneficial schemes such as krida prabodhini in all the districts of Maharashtra state where the beginners in sports are selected through trails and trained inclusive of hostel facility, school education provided with equipment and food. On creating one such possible platform in Nagaland state, success in sports is bound to excel. All round development of a person is tested through sports activities and I believe that education on the other side should bring out both mentally and physically fit leaders, taking in larger consideration of developing physical education ethics and the major focus on sports activities as a powerful means of bringing moral perfection in the youths.
Career: To promote shooting in India, University Grants Commission is also providing free education to the National shooters till up to the University level. Sports quota for the shooting is widely seen in the recruitment of services like Air force, Indian Army, Navy etc and many corporate under CSR scheme provides financial assistance to the shooters.
Here are some elite shooters who have extremely done well in their career-
1) Abhinav Bindra, India’s only individual Olympic Gold medalist, Presently, Chairman of Athletes Committee International Shooting Sports Federation
2) Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Olympic Silver Medalist, Presently, Minister of Youth affairs and Sports.
3) Anjali Bhagwat, Olympian and former World No.1 runs her own company Anjali Bhagwat Shooting Academy at Pune, where she trains many International and National players, also the Grand Jury Member at INDIAN SPORTS HONOURS.
Proposal: A full-fledged management program from the grass root level would be excellent work to start in Nagaland which could be made possible if Nagaland Board of School Education and Nagaland University do more than introduce the shooting sports paving ways for young minds. I believe that it is utmost important on the part of the whole system to create sporting champions by identifying the right talent, giving the right support at the right time.
Nagaland Rifle Association has direct affiliation to the National Rifle Association of India which is a direct gateway to participate nationally and internationally.
Question here are 1. Do you have what it takes to become a shooter? If yes, one can visit kohima, Mokokchung and Dimapur where shooting ranges of International standard has already been setup.
2. Is the current educational system in Nagaland ready for a change in upbringing sports culture where already Indian educational system is reaching heights across the globe?
3. Is the present government willing to revive the sports culture in Nagaland by keeping a special task force for sports development and award the elite sports person? If then, I believe in every locality we will see youngsters representing Nagaland in the national and international level instead of subscribing to drugs, violence and restiveness.
India’s lone Olympic gold medalist, Abhinav Bindra once commented on the genetic advantage of Mongolian race anatomical structure in the shooting sport.
