ASC Chief Sheikh Salman inaugurates 11th Asian Youth Training and Coaching Camp in Colombo

The Asian Shooting Confederation (ASC) President Sheikh Salman Al Sabah this week officially declared open the 11th Asian Youth Training and Coaching Camp - Air Rifle - 2023 at the Mt. Lavinia Hotel in which 11 member nations are participating. 

Accompanying Sheik Al Sabah was Eng. Duaij Al Otabi, the Secretary General of Asian Shooting Confederation. 

The colourful opening ceremony commenced with the welcoming of the President and Secretary General ASC to the beat of Kandyan drums, dancers and the lighting of the traditional oil lamp. A welcome speech from the President of National Shooting Sport Federation of Sri Lanka (NSSF) Shirantha Peries, followed by traditional dancing and drumming entertainment, presentation of mementos and the vote of thanks by Rifle of NSSF Vice President Lt. Col. (Rtd.) Janaka Ritigahapola, completed the evenings proceedings. 

The eight-day program which commenced on 20 June will continue until 28 June with over 40 athletes and coaches taking part in the first-of-its-kind event to be held in Sri Lanka. The ASC has vested NSSF, headed by Shirantha Peries to coordinate and conduct this program, which will undoubtedly help the 15 participants from Sri Lanka to whom this is the first time such an opportunity in Sri Lanka has presented itself. 

“I express my deep appreciation to the leadership and officials of the NSSF in Sri Lanka for their hard work and cooperation in preparing and assisting the Asian Shooting Confederation to continue in running this exceptional project for the development of the sport across the region and beyond,” stated Sheikh Al Sabah during his opening remarks. 

The training programs are conducted by Deepak Kumar Dubey from India, who is a world renowned coach and trainer in the Olympic Shooting Sport of Air Rifle. His focus will be on this discipline and he will impart his knowledge to the 42 participants – 22 athletes and 20 coaches – from 11 countries. Dubey is an experienced coach and this will be a valuable and good opportunity to improve the shooting and coaching techniques of all participants. 

“The ASC is committed to promote shooting amongst youngsters from the region, and our ambition is to produce more medal winners at the top level,” asserted Sheikh Al Sabah, outlining the purpose of such camps is to develop youth and junior athletes as well as national coaches from member Asian countries. 

The opening ceremony was graced by ASC Secretary General Engr. Duaij Al Otaibi, NSSF President Shirantha Peries, Secretary General Pradeep Edirisinghe, 11th Asian Youth Training Camp and Coaching Course Instructor Deepak Kumar Dubey, NSSF Rifle Vice President Lt. Col. (Rtd.) Janaka Ritigahapola, Pistol Vice President DIG (Rtd.) Gamini Walgama, Shotgun Vice President Mohan Gilbert, Coaching Vice President D.M.P.B. Dassanayake , Technical Committee Chairman Dallas Martenstyn, Judges Committee Chairman Lt. Cdr. Naveen Pathmarathna, Capt.(Rtd.) Harsha Weerasooriya, Shotgun Secretary Dinesh Lionel, Flt.Lt. Ashan Herath and participants from the 11 Asian countries.

The program continues with daily theoretical and practical sessions at an air rifle shooting range with eight electronic target lanes specially designed for the event at the Mt. Lavinia Hotel.