Dimapur, October 3 (MExN): The XI North East Zone Shooting Championship 2024, hosted by the Aries Rifle and Pistol Shooting Academy, concluded at the Aries Sports Complex Shooting Ranges in Bamunpukhuri-I, Dimapur. The championship, which ran from September 25 to October 1, was conducted by the Nagaland Rifle Association under the aegis of the National Rifle Association of India. A total of 369 shooters from the six northeastern states, along with representatives from the Assam Rifle Marksmanship Unit and the Army Marksmanship Unit, participated in the competition.
Among the participants, 245 were men and 124 were women, with Assam fielding the largest contingent of 144 shooters.
Manipur followed with 73 shooters, while Meghalaya had 52, Mizoram 28, and Nagaland 37. The Assam Rifle Marksmanship Unit contributed 25 shooters, while the Army Marksmanship Unit had 6 participants.
Nagaland showcased an impressive performance by bagging 12 medals in total, including five gold, five silver, and two bronze. Leading the medal tally for the state was Echenlemla Aier, who won two gold medals in the 10m Air Rifle Sub Youth Women Individual and the 10m Air Rifle Youth Women Individual categories. Kimatsung Jamir added to Nagaland’s success with a silver medal in the 10m Air Rifle Men Individual event and a gold medal in the 50m Rifle Peep Sight Prone ISSF. He also secured silver in the 50m Rifle 3 Position Men Individual category.
In other categories, Wapangnungla Longkumer earned a silver medal in the 10m Air Rifle Women Individual event, while Chizou Sorhienuo took gold in the 10m Air Rifle Senior Master Women Individual. Vikuo Metha won a bronze in the 10m Air Pistol Master Men Individual category, and Lanu Rongsenkaba Jamir secured a silver medal in the 25m Standard Pistol Master Men Individual. Lanu Akumtoshi Jamir emerged victorious with a gold medal in the 50m Rifle 3 Position Master Men Individual category, along with a silver in the 50m Rifle Peep Sight Prone Master Men Individual. M. Tiatemjen Jamir added another bronze to Nagaland’s tally in the 50m Rifle Peep Sight Prone Men Individual event.
Despite Nagaland’s strong showing, Assam dominated the overall championship, clinching 31 gold, 17 silver, and 15 bronze medals, making them the top-ranked state with a total of 63 medals. Manipur followed in second place with 14 gold, 18 silver, and 19 bronze medals, totaling 51. Mizoram secured third place with 11 gold, 9 silver, and 6 bronze medals, while Meghalaya finished in fourth place with 6 gold, 12 silver, and 10 bronze medals. Nagaland ranked fifth with their 12 medals, and Arunachal Pradesh did not secure any medals, placing them last in the competition.