Gilbert aims to attract more youngsters for shotgun shooting

Tuesday, 16 February 2021 00:43 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

NSSF Mohan Gilbert

As the sport of shooting makes a gradual comeback following the COVID-19 pandemic, National Shooting Sport Federation of Sri Lanka has initiated the commencement of its Trap and Skeet (Shotgun events) competitions in an enthusiastic and aggressive manner.

The Clay Target Shooting Club of Colombo’s Shotgun Range in Payagala, being the only current facility in the country, will serve as the venue for these competitions.

NSSF Vice President Mohan Gilbert responsible for the development of Shotgun disciplines highlighted that more young shooters were needed to nourish this discipline which draws high spectator participation. Initially parental support in way of funding would be required to develop young blood, since Shotgun shooting happens to be the most expensive shooting discipline among the Olympic shooting disciplines.

The Clay Target Shooting Club of Colombo (CTSCC), affiliated to the NSSF, has been generous enough to provide its Shotgun Shooting Range facility in Payagala free of charge for all NSSF conducted Trap and Skeet events, stated Gilbert.

Recently the NSSF Open Skeet event was conducted and Gilbert served as the Match Director, while Dinesh Lionel was the Range Master. Match Referees were Lt. Col. Thilak Dissanayake, Russel Gray and Group Capt. (Retd.) Jagath Ranasinghe.

In addition the NSSF conducted its first Online Skeet participation at the inaugural Asian Online Shooting Championship, where Pradeep Edirisinghe, the General Secretary of NSSF was nominated by the Asian Shooting Confederation to overlook the competition.

Unfortunately, the NSSF was not able to participate in the Trap event since the Trap Shooting configuration existing at the Payagala Shotgun Shooting Range does not conform to Olympic Trench specifications. In order to conform to Olympic specifications it would require an additional Rs. 20 million to be invested. The NSSF has requested the Ministry of Sports to extend a loan of Rs. 10 million to the Clay Target Shooting Club of Colombo to be paid back in 10 years.

The NSSF will conduct the Trap Open Meet from 11 to 14 March at the Payagala Shotgun Shooting Range, with the existing configuration.

“We need to conduct a Shotgun Referees Course to increase the number of Shotgun Referees,” Gilbert said explaining, that he would take up this matter with the Chairman Judges Committee, SSP (Retd.) Ibrahim Hameed in order to conduct a Shotgun Referees Course shortly in Sri Lanka.

In conclusion, Gilbert encouraged the shotgun shooters to increase their training schedules and achieve the Olympic minimum qualifying score which is 114 for Skeet and 112 for Trap. “It is when we reach this global standard that we can be a contender in the international arena.”