Success of Sri Lanka’s first-ever electronic target meet, draws value of a national range
The National Shooting Sport Federation (NSSF) made a breakthrough in the history of the shooting sport, when it conducted Sri Lanka’s first-ever electronic target air pistol and air rifle championship. The competition was held through eight days at the intended ‘national shooting range’ where over 80 shooters of national calibre competed under four categories inside the four-lane electronic target range.
“This is the way forward, this is the future if we are looking at competing on par with international standards. Overall it was a tournament that gave all, shooters, coaches and officials a perspective of where our future in air pistol and air rifle shooting should be,” summing up the success of the inaugural Open Air Gun Championship, Pradeep Edirisinghe, the Secretary of NSSF stated.
Events held were 10metre Air Rifle and Air Pistol for Men and Women, in which shooters with minimum qualifying standards (MQS) were allowed the opportunity to compete. Many of the shooters were with international exposure or veterans at domestic level, but there were quite a few newcomers who showed true potential at the country’s first-ever competition complying to ISSF standards.
B.A.N. Madushani of Sri Lanka Army (ASAA) became the title holder of the first-ever 10m Air Rifle Women competition after she accumulated 614 points overall while Amandika Amarasinghe of Clay Target Shooting Club of Colombo (CTSCC) won the silver medal with 613.3 points. The bronze medal was claimed by Neja Dassanayake Sri Lanka Schools (SLSSSA) who raked up 612 points. Out of a total of 25 participants, Tehani Egodawela of Sri Lanka Navy (SLN Musketry) was placed fourth with 610.2 points.
The gold medal of 10m Air Rifle Men was claimed by W.K. Yamith Krishantha of SLN Musketry, who recorded 614.5 points. The experienced Mangala Samarakoon of ASAA won the silver medal with 608.2 points while the bronze medal was won by his team-mate P.K.I.S. Sayanga, who recorded 607.5 points. A total of 19 participants competed in this category.
Amali Kulatunga of ASAA won the gold medal in the 10m Air Pistol Women category. She claimed 556 points to achieve this feat while with two points behind veteran shooter Ruwini Abeymanne of Negombo Rifle Shooting Club (NRC) claimed the silver medal. Behind Abeymanne, who claimed 554 points, K.G.T.D. Dilrukshi of SLN Musketry, with 551 points finished at third to win the bronze medal from a total of 15 participants.
Experienced campaigner Suranga Fernando of Cambrian Shooting Sport Club, claimed 568 points to win the gold medal of 10m Air Gun Men. From a total of 23 participants, two shooters finished on equal levels, but with a better record of 558×12 points A.S. Widanage of SLSSSA secured the silver medal. The bronze medal went to E.H.M.R.C. Sanjeewa of ASAA, who completed his rounds with 558×8 points.
“All shooters were keen and energetic for the fact that they were able to compete in a range with electronic targets at a location convenient to access. Most of them contested after a long lapse due to Covid-19, but they performed considerably well. They could improve with more competitions of this sort,” Edirisinghe added.
Through the inaugural competition, NSSF will update its national squads in accordance with the MSQs obtained by the shooters. The NSSF Open Air Gun Championship is the first competition to be conducted by the governing body of shooting sports in Sri Lanka, after it came to an agreement with the Ministry of Sports through the High Performance Sports Development Programme.
Through this agreement NSSF is expected to receive Sports Ministry assistance to construct a new training venue, which will also serve as the national range for Air Rifle and Air Pistol events. The intended ‘national shooting range’ will be the centre point to national and hopeful athletes, and is to be located at a private property in Kohuwela leased out by the National Federation, where the recently concluded NSSF Open Air Gun Championship was held.
“Through the agreement, the range should have at least 10 lanes with electronic targets. But we already have a range of four lanes with electronic targets, and that was where the competition was held. This range was set up in 2019 by our president, Mr. Shirantha Peries through his personal interest and commitment and is used as a practice venue for shooters who are preparing for international meets. But after the success of the recent meet, NSSF may consider to conduct more competitions in order to build the momentum of our shooters for international challenges, until the proper national shooting range is completed,” explained Edirisinghe.
This prolific project is a brainchild of Shirantha Peries, the President of NSSF, who had made all possible attempts to secure a National Shooting Range, a compulsory requirement, for a sport that has potential in winning medals and accolades at international level, including the Commonwealth Games and Olympics.
The NSSF will operate the range as a High Performance Centre. The National Federation is also hopeful that the services of an expert foreign coach would be realized in the near future as promised by the High Performance Committee appointed by the Ministry of Sports.