51st National Shooting Championship starts from Dec 28

Ahmedabad, Dec 20 (UNI) World Record holder Jaspal Rana and World Champion Abhinav Bindra will be seen in action at the 51st National Shooting Championship, which will be played at city's Rifle club between December 28 and January 7, 2008.

The Championship is being conducted by the Ahmedabad Military and Rifle Training Association (AMRTA) in collaboration with the National Rifle Association of India and Gujarat State Rifle Association, AMRTA Vice President Nanubhai Surti told mediapersons here today.

Mr Surti said ''The 51st National Shooting Championship has two events, small bore rifle and pistol, and has attracted more than 1100 players from every nook and corner of the country.'' ''Beside Rana and Bindra, Man of the Asian games Samaresh Jang, International Award winner Susham Rana, Anjali Bhagavat and Sardar Patel Award winner Atul Barot from Gujarat will also take part in the competition,'' Mr Surti added.

The highest numbers of participants, 192 players are from Maharashtra, followed by 145 from Uttar Pradesh, 115 from Indian armed forces and 30 players from the host Gujarat.

The championship will be inaugurated by former Union Defence Minister of the state and BJP MP from Gujarat, Harin Pathak.

UNI