In a quiet corner of the city, a former squash court has been transformed into a crucible for Olympic dreams. Since its inauguration by the Municipal Corporation in 2020, the Ludhiana Shooting Range has quietly built a reputation as a cradle of young shooting talent, training over 25 athletes—some barely in their teens—under the guidance of seasoned coaches.
Nestled within the state government’s sports complex, the 12-metre indoor range buzzes with activity twice daily. The first cohort assembles at dawn, from 5:30 to 7:00 am, while the evening session runs from 3:00 to 5:30 pm. To keep the doors open to aspiring marksmen of all means, fees are set at a modest ₹3,500 per month for those who supply their own firearms, and ₹4,500 for those relying on the range’s equipment.
Eleven-year-old Girish, a Class VII student, exemplifies the hunger fueling this facility’s success. “I started here a few months ago,” he explains, pistol in hand. “Abhinav Bindra is my hero. One day, I want to stand on the Olympic podium for India.” His steady focus and confident posture belie his age, hinting at the mental discipline instilled by coaches Gurjit Singh and Priya—both former international competitors themselves.
At the other end of the spectrum is 19-year-old Pawanpreet Singh Sekhon, fresh out of Class XII but already a seasoned campaigner on the world stage. In 2024, he secured silver at an international meet in Serbia, and he boasts three successive silver medals from national championships in 2022, 2023, and the Delhi open earlier this year. Pawanpreet also clinched bronze in the “Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan” games in both 2022 and 2023. “My brother Arshpreet was my first mentor,” he remarks, paying tribute to his elder sibling who also competed internationally. “Now, my target is the Indian shooting team.”
Rifle shooter Seerat, another rising star here, recently placed in the top five at the PAU Schools Games, and dreams of turning professional. “The coaching here is world-class,” she says. “Every day, I learn something new about precision and control.”
Priya, who alongside head coach Gurjit Singh oversees the range’s programs, is bullish about the future. “Gurjit has mentored multiple medal winners at the Commonwealth and other global events,” she notes. “With dedication like this among our youngsters, it’s only a matter of time before Ludhiana’s shooters start bringing home international medals for India.”
As the sun rises over Ludhiana each morning, the echo of shots from this converted squash court signals more than just practice—it heralds the forging of champions.
