History scripted
Ranjit Thakur
JAMMU, Sept 13: In a major achievement, an 18 year-old ace shooter of Jammu and Kashmir, Aneesha Sharma has been selected for the Asian Shooting Championship to be held from October 22 to November 2, 2023 in Changwon, Korea.
Aneesha is a trainee of Mission Olympics Shooting Academy Jammu and she will represent India in 10 meter Air Rifle event in Youth Women Category.
Aneesha Sharma, with her exceptional shooting skills and unwavering dedication has emerged as one of the most promising talents in shooting in India. Her selection for the Asian Shooting Championship is based on National ranking with an average score of 627.6 from the past one year. The selection list was declared by the National Rifle Association of India.
Speaking exclusively to Excelsior, Aneesha said, “It’s a dream come true for me to represent India in the Asian Shooting Championship. Currently I am receiving training at the National Centre for Excellence in Delhi, an institution affiliated with the Sports Authority of India.”
On her journey, Aneesha mentioned that her parents have professions unrelated to sports – her mother is a school Teacher and her father is a Bank Manager. Initially, Aneesha began her shooting endeavor in 2018 as a mere hobby at Rich Harvest School in Bari Brahmana, Jammu. However, with the support and coaching of Vishal Mehra, her hobby soon evolved into a genuine passion. Consequently, she decided to join the Mission Olympics Shooting Academy in Jammu, where she began to pursue the sport more seriously.
Aneesha claimed that since shooting is an expensive sport, only few people can participate in it without Government assistance. In Jammu and Kashmir, there are unfortunately not enough essential Government facilities. This forced her to look for training in Delhi, which also affected her academics. Aneesha believed that Jammu and Kashmir’s youth have the ability to excel and win medals at world level, but they need support from the Government by providing world-class infrastructure.
Vishal Mehra, Aneesha’s initial trainer told Excelsior, “I began coaching Aneesha when she was in the 7th grade. Initially, she saw shooting as a mere hobby, but soon she displayed immense potential as a talented young shooter. Throughout the journey, we faced numerous challenges, particularly in the beginning when she did not have her own weapon. We had to borrow one from a friend in the army for practice. Aneesha dedicatedly worked hard throughout this entire process, never missing a single event, and now we see the results of her efforts. I am beyond words when it comes to expressing my joy and happiness.”
President of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifle Association (JKRA), S.S. Sodhi expressed his deep pride in the accomplishment of a shooter from Jammu and Kashmir who has become the first shooter of the region in the Asian Shooting Championship. Additionally, he shared his aspiration to guide her towards the Olympic Games, emphasizing her role as an inspiring figure for aspiring shooters.
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