Lucknow :

City boy, Ishan Kalhans, student of class IX in La Martiniere College has become a ‘Renowned National Shooter’ under the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI). He scored points much above the threshold in the category at the 59th All India Shooting Championship 2015 on Sunday. Along with this feat, Ishan is now eligible to appear in selection trials for the Indian rifle shooting team.

Ishan scored 580.5 points at the championship held at Dr Karni Singh Shooting range in Delhi in the under 18 ‘Youth’ category in the 10 meter air rifle shooting. “The player needs to score above 570 points to be able to achieve this title. I have become a national qualified shooter now,” said Ishan. After this, he will be participating in the KSS tournament scheduled at Kerala in February 2016, where trials for the Indian team will also be held.

The young boy was inspired by his father Siddharth Kalhans, who had earlier been an air rifle shooter. In 2014, when Ishan’s principal introduced the sport in the school, he started practising and participating. Taking up target practice for three hours daily, he first took part in the Uttar Pradesh State Shooting Championship in 2014 and won bronze medal. This year, he won silver medal in the same championship and also won silver medal in 10meter air rifle team in Uttarakhand State Shooting Championship, 2015.

He owns a German air rifle and wants to take up air rifle shooting along with Indian Civil Services in future. Ishan aspires to represent India at the Olympics.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / December 15th, 2015