NSSF Rifle and Pistol Open Championship from 8 Aug.

Nearly 200 entries have been already received for the upcoming NSSF Rifle and Pistol Open Championship 2024, which is scheduled to take place during the month of August at two official shooting ranges sanctioned by the National Shooting Sport Federation of Sri Lanka (NSSF).

Accordingly, the NSSF has identified its National Range in Kohuwala as the venue for the 10m Airgun events, which is slated to take place between 8 and 14 August. The venue for the 25m and 50m rifle and pistol events will be held at the Sri Lanka Navy Shooting Range in Welisara from 27 to 30 August. 

Eight events each have been planned under individual and team segments for categories of Youth, Junior and Senior, for both men and women. 

The 10m Air Rifle and 10m Air Pistol events, will be contested by men and women, in all three categories – Youth, Junior and Senior – as individual and team events. All these events will be held at the National Range in Kohuwala, with a large number of shooters representing schools expected to compete during the seven days. 

The rest of the individual and team events are slotted for Junior and Senior shooters, who will compete in 25m Sport Pistol Women, 25m Rapid Fire Men, 25m Standard Pistol Men, 50m Pistol Men, 50m Prone Men, and Women and Three Position (3x20) Men and Women. These events will be held at the Naval Range in Welisara during the course of four days. 

The NSSF has categorised Youth as shooters who are 18-years-old or below while competitors between the ages of 18 and 21 come under the Junior category. The Senior category will consist of competitors above the age of 21 as at 31 December this year. The NSSF will award medals and certificates for winners of events under both categories, individual and teams.

Shooters representing the Sri Lanka Schools Shooting Association, Clay Target Shooting Club of Colombo, Negombo Rifle Club, Magnum Shooting Sports Club, Wayamba Shooting Club, Hill Country Shooting Club, Cambrian Shooting Club, Scorpion Shooting Club, Police Shooting Club, Army Small Arms, Sri Lanka Navy Musketry, Sri Lanka Air Force, Athugala Shooting Club, Siyane Rifle Shooting Club, Sports Shooting Club of Nuwara Eliya, and Magam Shooting Club are expected to compete.

The NSSF, through these competitions, together with the Schools Shooting Association is in the process of preparing the youth to be contenders at the Youth Olympic Games 2026 to be held in Senegal.