Shillong, Jun 10: Indian shooting star Manu Bhaker (pictured centre) is looking forward to training in Shillong when it gets an appropriate shooting range.
Manu said this to National Rifle Association of India Vice-President and Shooting Association of Meghalaya President John F Kharshiing (pictured second left) while in Munich, Germany, for the ISSF World Cup.
The double Olympic bronze medallist from Paris 2024 asked Kharshiing when the new shooting range would be ready as she wants to spend a month training “in such a venue with natural beauty,” Kharshiing recounted. She emphasised and urged the Meghalaya government to create a shooting facility in Meghalaya with an athlete-friendly ecosystem in the region, similar to the facilities available in Munich and other international venues.
In an email from Munich, Kharshiing also congratulated Elavenil Valarivan, who won India’s first medal at the World Cup with a bronze in the women’s 10m air rifle event today.
He toured the 10m, 25m, 50m and final hall ranges, engaging with athletes, coaches and technical officials to assess training infrastructure and boost morale.
Kharshiing also held an in-depth discussion with the sports scientist Pierre Beauchamp (pictured second right), who is the High Performance Director of the NRAI.
They spoke regarding preparations for the upcoming 39th National Games 2027 in Meghalaya. Kharshiing reported that Beauchamp said he is committed to supporting the sustainable development of shooting in Meghalaya and across the North East, recognising the region’s growing number of shooters and potential for high-performance athletes.
He assured that in close consultation with the NRAI, he would share his experience and offer guidance to help Meghalaya build a strong and competitive shooting team for the National Games.
“Reaching the podium at World Cup or Olympic level requires not only consistent technical performance but also strong mental resilience and comprehensive logistical support. Athletes must be holistically prepared to excel on both national and international stages,” he noted.
(Photo contributed)
