This is the first time that Nagaland is hosting the tournament
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A practice session in progress[/caption]
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 29: The inaugural programme of the 4th Northeast Zone Shooting Championship 2016 was held on Monday at Shooting Range at the Aries Sports Complex, Bamunpukhuri-1 in Dimapur.
The chief guest, M Rachandra Singh, secretary of National Rifle Association of India and vice president of Manipur Rifle Association urged the participants to aim for higher glory. “Do you like medal in a competition. Would you like medal in the Olympics. Can you do it?” he challenged.Singh shared that while world class equipments were available, it was the duty of the management to share them with the shooters to further their development in the sport. “Shooting is a type of game where it needs concentration, coordination of body and mind”, he said while suggesting that yoga could help enhance a shooter’s performance.
He also appreciated PM Modi for initiating the task force to hunt talents for the next Olympics and for giving more emphasis to the sport of shooting today.
Singh encouraged the shooters to build good relations among them during the tournament. He also reminded that the objective of the tournament was to promote the game of shooting, not only in the northeast but throughout India.
Merang Jamir of Nagaland Rifle Association gave a brief introduction about the event and an insight into his journey that led to the hosting of the first ever pre-national championship in Nagaland.
Five states from the northeast are competing in the tournament: Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya and Nagaland. Hundred and sixty two participants are taking part in the championship, out of which hundred and seventeen are men and forty-five women.
Out of the 12 participants from Nagaland, Chizou Jamir is the only female. The state with the highest number of participants is Manipur, with fifty-nine shooters. The championship will witness 33 registered matches during the six-day long tournament. The categories of the matches are classified into two groups i.e. National Rules (NR) and International Rules (ISSF).
As the championship begins, Nagaland will witness the best shooters from northeast region shoot their way into qualification for national event.
