Bigger and better, the 7th edition of the Eklavya Sports Shooting Championship is upon us, and the Rs 3 lakh prize money competition in rifle and pistol events will be staged from May 26-29 at the Oases Jagatpura Shooting Range in Jaipur.
The competition, which is being organised by Eklavya Sports Shooting Academy, has the sanction of the Rajasthan Rifle Association, and will see several well-known names battle it out for the top honours.
The brainchild of Yogesh Shekhawat, who has worked extensively to hone talent at the grassroot level, the coach’s crowning glory came when his student Mona Agarwal secured a quota in women’s 10m air rifle SH1 for the upcoming Paris Olympics.
The 37-year-old Mona secured the Olympic quota and gold at the Para Shooting World Cup at New Delhi in March, and struck gold again in her pet event at the Changwon World Cup in late April.
Mona will surely be the top draw in the field, and her recent achievements on the world stage despite heavy odds will be an inspiration for the other competitors.
The tournament’s growing stature can be gauged from the list of hopefuls who have signed up. This time, the number of entries is expected to be in excess of 1500, which was the strength of the field last year.
The prize money tournament’s growth finds reflection in Shekhawat’s words. “There were about 300 shooters when we started in 2014. The competition has grown over the years and I can proudly say that shooters look forward to this competition each year,” said Shekhawat, who is also the tournament director.
Conforming to international standards, the tournament offers plenty of incentives, including cash prizes, in all the individual and team events.
Entries are also being invited online, and the last date for submitting duly completed forms is May 24, 5 PM.
For more information, please contact the following officials:
Yogesh Shekhawat, Director of Competition – 9929463559
Mahipal Singh, Organizing Secretary – 9950061154
Suresh Chauhan, Assistant Organizing Secretary – 9813085181