NSSF to host 11th Asian Youth Training Camp and Coaches Course

Deepak Kumar Dubey of India will be the instructor for the 10-day program

For the first time in the history of shooting sports in the country, Sri Lanka will host a regional level youth training camp and coaching course with the participation of 11 nations that are affiliated to the Asian Shooting Confederation (AFC).

The Asian Shooting Confederation has vested the National Shooting Sport Federation of Sri Lanka (NSSF) to host the 11th Asian Youth Training and Coaching Camp (Air Rifle) - 2023 at the Mt. Lavinia Hotel from 20 to 30 June.

The purpose of the Asian Shooting Confederation Camp is to develop Youth and Junior athletes as well as National Coaches. The Asian Shooting Confederation has invited the 15 member federations that are outside South and South-East Asian zones to register a total of two participants (1 athlete and 1 coach or 2 athletes or 2 coaches) in the camp. Over 40 Athletes and Coaches are expected to participate in the 10-day programme of which 22 are athletes and 20 coaches.

Sri Lanka will have 10 athletes and 5 coaches, Bangladesh 2 athletes and 2 coaches, India 2 athletes, Pakistan 2 athletes and 2 coaches, Kazakhstan I athlete and 1 coach, Kyrgyzstan 2 athletes, Kuwait 1 athlete and 1 coach, Afghanistan 3 coaches and Tajikistan 2 athletes and 2 coaches.

The instructor for this camp will be Deepak Kumar Dubey of India. The camp will include practical training, theoretical and a technical course for athletes and coaches. An anti-doping workshop will also be conducted. The training camp is specifically for Air Rifle, an event governed by the International Shooting Sport Federation and conducted at the Olympic Games, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.

The training camp is expected to generate interest among the young rifle shooters in Sri Lanka, particularly in schools. This will also help to showcase Sri Lanka’s capacity to organise and host international events for the region.

“We have the potential to deliver and the NSSF is capable of taking any challenge,” stated an energised NSSF President, Shirantha Peries through whose initiative this event was brought to Sri Lanka.

The National Shooting Sport Federation of Sri Lanka was gifted with four electronic target systems by the Asian Shooting Confederation. These target systems will help add another four electronic target shooting bays in order to conduct training and prepare our athletes to be contenders on the international arena.