<div>Often touted as a sport for the elite, rifle shooting has not received a mass participation in our country as other sports. After Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Abhinav Bindra won India Olympic medals, the Olympic glory for India put the sport of shooting on a different pedestal.<br /><br />However, the country today needs more Anjali Bhagat (World Number One in 10m Air Rifle in 2002) and Tejaswini Sawant (silver in Women’s 50 rifle prone singles Commonwealth Games 2010).<br /><br />To encourage talented young girls to pursue this sport, Sonalika International Tractor Limited (ITL) came up with Udaan, an initiative on women empowerment. In collaboration with Rifle Association of Johri (Uttar Pradesh), the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), they have taken the responsibility of supporting 20 young girls and train them for shooting at the national level. Twelve girls out of the 20 have been selected for National Level Shooting. These girls come from families of thelewallahs, daily wagers and farmers. <br /><br />Apart from expenses on rifles and guns, training in the sport requires additional expenses on coaching, cartridges, shooting ranges.<br /><br />“They join the sport to increase chances of employability and get into good government colleges through sports quota,” says Lopamudra Priyadarshini, head of CSR Sonalika ITL. At present, 400 girls have enrolled themselves in the programme. Udaan helps them pursue the sport if it interests them enough. <br /><br />“We buy air pistols from senior shooters who don’t need them anymore and give it to these children to practice with,” says Priyadarshini.<br /><br />Kajal Khokher, 16, is in class 12. She tells Metrolife, “Earlier I used to do nothing but when I tried my hand at shooting, I realised that I can pursue this. I travel across the country for many championships and it makes me proud too.”<br /><br />Khokher is a national level, air pistol shooter, who is ready for international championships, but lack of sponsorship is a hindrance.<br /><br />“The initiative is less than a year old. We need to keep checks on how much effort is being put by the girls; we are in association with Rifle Association of Johri (UP), which is part of Sports Authority of India. In past Baghpat, Johri itself has produced 32 international level shooters. If we see hope, we do sponsor them also,” adds Priyadarshini.<br /><br />Kuldeep Singh is the coach for the twelve girls. He has been coaching for rifle and pistol shooting for the past five years. He says, “There can be no gender-based disparity in the sport, men and women can both have the same challenges. There is no extra challenge that women face in this sport. Except, cultural inhibitions are there that may stop families from sending their daughters into this sport.” He mentions that there are many girls who pay their school fees with the prize money and also enter the police force.<br /><br /></div>
<div>Often touted as a sport for the elite, rifle shooting has not received a mass participation in our country as other sports. After Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Abhinav Bindra won India Olympic medals, the Olympic glory for India put the sport of shooting on a different pedestal.<br /><br />However, the country today needs more Anjali Bhagat (World Number One in 10m Air Rifle in 2002) and Tejaswini Sawant (silver in Women’s 50 rifle prone singles Commonwealth Games 2010).<br /><br />To encourage talented young girls to pursue this sport, Sonalika International Tractor Limited (ITL) came up with Udaan, an initiative on women empowerment. In collaboration with Rifle Association of Johri (Uttar Pradesh), the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), they have taken the responsibility of supporting 20 young girls and train them for shooting at the national level. Twelve girls out of the 20 have been selected for National Level Shooting. These girls come from families of thelewallahs, daily wagers and farmers. <br /><br />Apart from expenses on rifles and guns, training in the sport requires additional expenses on coaching, cartridges, shooting ranges.<br /><br />“They join the sport to increase chances of employability and get into good government colleges through sports quota,” says Lopamudra Priyadarshini, head of CSR Sonalika ITL. At present, 400 girls have enrolled themselves in the programme. Udaan helps them pursue the sport if it interests them enough. <br /><br />“We buy air pistols from senior shooters who don’t need them anymore and give it to these children to practice with,” says Priyadarshini.<br /><br />Kajal Khokher, 16, is in class 12. She tells Metrolife, “Earlier I used to do nothing but when I tried my hand at shooting, I realised that I can pursue this. I travel across the country for many championships and it makes me proud too.”<br /><br />Khokher is a national level, air pistol shooter, who is ready for international championships, but lack of sponsorship is a hindrance.<br /><br />“The initiative is less than a year old. We need to keep checks on how much effort is being put by the girls; we are in association with Rifle Association of Johri (UP), which is part of Sports Authority of India. In past Baghpat, Johri itself has produced 32 international level shooters. If we see hope, we do sponsor them also,” adds Priyadarshini.<br /><br />Kuldeep Singh is the coach for the twelve girls. He has been coaching for rifle and pistol shooting for the past five years. He says, “There can be no gender-based disparity in the sport, men and women can both have the same challenges. There is no extra challenge that women face in this sport. Except, cultural inhibitions are there that may stop families from sending their daughters into this sport.” He mentions that there are many girls who pay their school fees with the prize money and also enter the police force.<br /><br /></div>
