Kolkata: Shooting as a sport has seen many Indians like Abhinav Bindra, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Joydeep Karmakar and Gagan Narang make the country proud on a number of occasions.
Although shooting doesn’t have much fanfare like that of cricket or football, a certain 17-year-old Mehuli Ghosh, from Chinsurah in Bengal is out with the mission to fetch the sport it’s due popularity.
“To make it popular, I’m playing this. Every sport should get recognition and why not shooting? It is such an interesting sport and it’s the game where Abhinav Bindra has got India’s only gold medal in Olympics. This should be a popular sport and I’m working hard to make it,” said Mehuli, on the sidelines of a felicitation ceremony in the city on Thursday.
The shooting sensation had grabbed the limelight with an impressive performance in the Junior Shooting Championship in Czech Republic last May where she was the only Indian to qualify for the final round of the 10m Air Rifle event for women (junior).
She lived upto her reputation by putting up a remarkable show by winning a total of eight gold medals at the 61st National Shooting Championship Competition (NSCC). She also made the cut for the Commonwealth Games and also the Youth Olympics, both to be held later this year said that she is working hard to make shooting a popular sport in the country.
The youngster now trains under the watchful eyes of former Indian Olympian Joydeep Karmakar and is gearing up for her upcoming challenges.
Recalling her journey, Mehuli said, “I liked shooting balloons in the fairs. Even now I enjoy doing it. From then, I got to know about shooting as a sport and that it is a part of the Olympics. I also found out a shooting club near my place. Then I started developing an interest towards the sport.”
Mehuli was felicitated for her achievements in shooting alongside mentor Joydeep Karmakar, pacer Ishan Porel and Blind Cricket World Cup winner Surajit Ghara by the Aditya School of Sports on Thursday. Speaking about the entire event, she said, “This is really good. I am honoured and their vision for future sportspersons is really good.”
Talking of the ones she idolises, Mehuli said, “I look up to my coach Joydeep Mukherjee, Abhinav Bindra, Apoorvi Chandela and Anjali Bhagwat.”
Already having made a mark, Mehuli exuded confidence when she said that she’s ready for both the Commonwealth Games as well as the Youth Olympics.
“I’m ready for both these,” she signed off saying.