Anantnag, Dec 10 (KNO): Amir Ahmad Bhat, a 30-year-old Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) in the Indian Army, has made history as he became the first Kashmiri national champion in para shooting.
Hailing from Damhal village in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, Amir won two gold medals among five at the 5th Para Shooting Championship held in Pune, Maharashtra, in November.
He is also the first para shooter in India to qualify for the Paralympics in less than two years and represented India in the P3-25m Pistol Mixed event held at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris this year.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Bhat said, "In the 5th National Para Shooting Championship last month, I won a total of five medals. In the 10m Air Pistol event, I secured a gold medal, while in the 10m Air Pistol Standard, I earned an individual bronze and a team silver. In the 25m Sports Pistol event, I won individual gold, becoming the national champion, along with a team silver."
Amir, who began his shooting career in 2022, credits his time in the Indian Army for developing his skills. "When I joined the Army, we were trained in basic shooting. My performance was consistently excellent, and I eventually became a sniper, participating in several events," he said.
His confidence in his abilities encouraged him to take up shooting as a serious pursuit. "Shooting has vast potential as a sport, even more than cricket, on a global scale," he said.
Looking ahead, Amir aspires to represent India and the Indian Army on the world stage. "I am proud to bring these achievements to my country and my organisation," he added—(KNO)