Khoriphaba Shooting Academy celebrates success at District Level Shooting Competitions

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jun 13: Khoriphaba Shooting Academy, a premier grassroots talent hub for precision sports located at Meitram Makha Leikai, celebrated its success at District Level Shooting Competitions by felicitating the academy shooters today.
Speaking at the occasion, founder of the academy and a decorated State shooter, Pukhrambam Sophiya expressed happiness that the academy has fast emerged as a strong force in the State shooting scenario, with academy shooters returning with rich medal hauls from various competitions.
She also highlighted the major struggles faced by State shooters in pursuing the discipline.
“Although shooting is a very popular sport, high costs and limited places of practice have always been a hurdle for shooting enthusiasts to take up the discipline,” she said.
The equipment involved (rifle, pistol, ammunition) is very costly and can run into lakhs, she said, while adding that the Khuman Lampak Shooting Range served as the only major practice venue until the opening of a few private shooting ranges in recent years.
If equipment is made easily available to the shooters and there is plenty of practice space, State players can dominate the discipline in no time, she added.
“To curb the lack of practice space and encourage more shooters, Khoriphaba Shooting Academy was launched," she said. The academy has been able to produce many eminent shooters who have made their mark in district and State-level competitions so far, and it is the academy’s endeavour to see State shooters script many achievements in national and international arenas, she added.
President of the academy, Moirangthem Rachandra heaped praise on Sophiya, who has carved a niche of her own in State and regional competitions, for opening an academy that will inspire many and boost the State’s pool of shooters.
By offering aspiring shooters equipment and a structured training regimen, Sophiya has truly been successful in promoting the discipline, he acknowledged. He also exuded confidence that Sophiya and her academy will surely groom many world-class shooters, including Olympic medallists, in the near future.
Notably, the academy amassed 10 gold, 6 silver, and 5 bronze medals at the recently concluded Imphal West District Shooting Competition. Pukhrambam Sophiya herself also led the academy to secure 11 gold, 15 silver, and 1 bronze medal at the Imphal East District Shooting Competition.