Two-week shooting training & competition underway in Dimapur

A two-week training and competition programme on shooting, organised by Nagaland Shooting Sports Association (NSSA) in collaboration with Department of Youth Resources and Sports (DYRS), commenced on Friday, at Temjen Toy Indoor Shooting Range, Multi-Disciplinary Sports Complex, Dimapur, under the theme “Sports for All”.
Speaking at the inaugural event as the special guest, director DYRS, Kethosituo Sekhose highlighted that shooting was deeply ingrained in Naga’s blood, history and culture.
He also observed that while firearms were once associated primarily with warfare, he however added that after the introduction of shooting as a sport, the younger generation now has the opportunity to channel that legacy into a constructive sporting discipline.
He later stressed on the importance of mental preparation, pointing that “being mentally prepared is 50% of the game”, and expressed optimism that Nagas possessed the natural aptitude to excel in shooting if given the right platform and training.
Sekhose further informed that the state government was actively developing sporting infrastructure, informing that 31 indoor stadiums across the state would be ready by the end of the year, while adding that multiple futsal grounds across Nagaland being constructed across the state.
Sekhose further informed that a new sports policy, aligned with the national framework, was being formulated to strengthen opportunities for sportspersons.
While commending NSSA for providing free coaching to interested candidates, he encouraged particularly women to take up sports, noting that the department was prioritising initiatives to support female athletes. He also added that the state government was in the pursuit of arranging more shooting grounds across the state.
Sekhose also viewed that in order to achieve the status of a developed state or nation, sports could be one of the key drivers, and expressed hope that Nagas would excel in the sports industry.
Also delivering a short speech, guest of honour, assistant secretary general, Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA), Neivikuolie Khatsu, urged participants to maintain clarity of vision, discipline and effective time management.
He advised athletes to surround themselves with people who shared similar goals and values, and above all, to keep God at the centre of their journey.
Meanwhile, delivering his address as the chief host, NSSA working president, JI Yaden, acknowledged the courage of the young shooters in taking their first steps toward honing their skills.
He traced the history of shooting sports in Nagaland, beginning with the Kohima Rifle Club, established on October 22, 1974, by pioneering state government officials, which later led to the creation of the Nagaland State Rifle Association in 1991, which eventually merged with the Nagaland Rifle Association in 2019 to form the NSSA.
Yaden said the association’s vision had always been to conduct district level shooting competition to locate young talents to train and equip them for national as well as international shooters, to conduct coaching camps for proficient shooters in collaboration with Nagaland Police etc., to conduct State Level Rifle & Pistol shooting competitions annually.
He added that till date, NSSA and its predecessor associations have conducted 15 Hornbill State Level Shooting Competitions, alongside regular training programmes in collaboration with Nagaland Police.
Yaden later credited the state government, led by chief minister Dr Neiphiu Rio for enabling the construction of the state-of-the-art Temjen Toy Indoor Shooting Stadium, inaugurated in December 2022, adding that the facility has become a cornerstone for the growth of the sport in Nagaland.
Highlighting the challenges, Yaden acknowledged that the high cost of firearms and ammunition, as well as regulatory restrictions, remain obstacles to expansion.
He however added that to encourage participation, NSSA has subsidised ammunition and made weapons available for competitors who do not own them. “Even this training and competition is being conducted free of cost” he stated, adding that the ultimate goal was to produce athletes who could represent Nagaland at the national and international levels.
Earlier, the programme was chaired by Vilivi H Sheqi, and invocation offered by Senior Associate Pastor, Lotha Baptist Church Dimapur, Yanbemo Lotha.
Altogether, a total of 108 trainees would be taking part in the two weeks training and competition event.