Surrounded by sugarcane fields, the new range -- also a Sports Authority of India centre for shooting sport in the region now -- sees an unending stream of youngsters coming straight from schools and colleges, lugging their school bags and shooting paraphernalia. With dedication, they stand for hours polishing their skills while another set of youngsters waits patiently for its turn. Many travel 25-30 km one way, which shows how desperate they are to excel in a sport that can help escape the drudgery.
Sixteen-year-old pistol sensation, Saurabh Chaudhary, who won gold at the Asian Games and Youth Olympics, too first came to the Johri range but was sent back as it was a fair distance from his village. Hailing from Kalina village bordering Meerut, Saurabh later joined a club in Benoli (also in Baghpat), run by Amit Sheoran. The rest is history.
Dolly Jatav, 10, one of five children of brick kiln workers, was just seven when she was brought to the new Johri range by her father. Three years on, she has won air pistol gold in the All India Inter-School and silver in the UP State Championships in the youth category.
Most aspiring shooters here come from impoverished backgrounds -- children of labourers, farm workers and street vendors.
Read more of this in a report by Ajai Massand published in Hindustan Times....
