Future champions train at Ludhiana shooting range
The Ludhiana Shooting Range, run by the state government, is emerging as a hub for nurturing young talent in the sport of shooting. With more than 25 players, including teenagers, currently undergoing professional training, the facility is proving to be a launching pad for aspiring shooters.
Made fully operational by the Municipal Corporation in 2020, the shooting range has since been grooming young talent. The space was earlier home to a squash court that remained non-functional. After its conversion into a shooting range, it quickly began attracting players from across the city.
Currently, the range trains more than 25 enthusiasts, with ages ranging from 11 to 50 years. It operates in two shifts—morning from 5.30 am to 7.00 am, and evening from 3.00 pm to 5.30 pm. The training fee structure is nominal: Rs 3,500 per month for those who bring their own pistol or rifle and Rs 4,500 for those who use the facility’s equipment.
When The Tribune visited the facility, an 11-year-old boy named Girish, a 7th-grade student, was seen practising with a pistol. “I’ve been practising for the last few months. My role model is Abhinav Bindra, the Olympic gold medallist. I want to be like him and win a medal for my country one day,” said Girish with determination.
Among the standout talents at the range is 19-year-old Pawanpreet Singh Sekhon, an international-level shooter who recently completed his Class XII. In 2024, he clinched a silver medal at a championship in Serbia. He also secured three consecutive silver medals in national shooting championships—two in 2022 and 2023 and another at an open national championship in Delhi earlier this year.
Pawanpreet also bagged two bronze medals in the “Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan” games held in 2022 and 2023. “My inspiration is my elder brother, Arshpreet Singh Sekhon, who was also an international shooter. Now, my goal is to make it to the Indian shooting team. Our coaches, Gurjit Singh and Priya—both international players—have been giving us world-class training,” he shared.
Another young enthusiast, Seerat, who is training in rifle shooting, said she dreams of becoming a professional shooter. She recently participated in the PAU Schools Games and finished among the top five in her category.
Coach Priya encouraged more youth to join the range and benefit from the professional-level coaching available at the 12-meter facility. “Our head coach, Gurjit Singh, has trained several medal-winning players at the Commonwealth and other international events. We believe it’s only a matter of time before players from this range bring medals for the country,” she added.
Punjab