Deepak Singh
Shillong, July 12: The Meghalaya government has resolved to establish the state’s first integrated shooting range, a project expected to drastically elevate the state’s shooting landscape and create a lasting sporting legacy beyond the 39th National Games in 2027.
When the announcement was made by Commissioner and Secretary for Sports and Youth Affairs Dr Vijay Kumar D. during the closing ceremony of the 11th Meghalaya State Shooting Championship in Shillong earlier this month, it piqued considerable interest. But what exactly is an integrated shooting range, and why is it considered crucial for Meghalaya’s ambition to emerge as a shooting hub not only in the Northeast but across the country?
Meghalaya is already constructing a dedicated shooting range at Mawkhanu for the 39th National Games. The Mawkhanu facility is expected to be completed in time for the National Games in 2027. The Shooting Association of Meghalaya (SAM) has also proposed that the state government consider upgrading the venue into a Centre of Excellence for Shooting to serve athletes from across the Northeast.
The proposed integrated shooting range is a separate project that will take shape well after the 39th National Games, with the vision of creating a lasting legacy for shooting in Meghalaya.
The integrated shooting range plan stems from a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Shillong on July 8, 2025, between the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), the Shooting Association of Meghalaya (SAM) and the Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs (DSYA), Government of Meghalaya. The agreement was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.
During the signing ceremony, NRAI President Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo proposed establishing the state’s first integrated shooting range at Mawkhanu, describing it as a project that could transform Meghalaya into a major centre for shooting sports in the region.
Unlike a conventional shooting range designed for a single discipline, an integrated shooting range houses multiple Olympic and international shooting events within one complex. It typically includes 10-metre, 25-metre and 50-metre ranges, electronic target systems, athlete training areas, coaching facilities and supporting infrastructure that allows the venue to host national and international competitions.
SAM President John F. Kharshiing said the proposed shooting range could provide a major boost to shooting in the Northeast, particularly given the region’s rich pool of talented shooters, many of whom serve in the armed forces.
He said senior Army officials have also expressed support for establishing permanent shooting infrastructure in Meghalaya, noting that world-class facilities would help identify, train and develop local talent capable of competing at the national and international levels.
Kharshiing also highlighted the economic potential of the project. According to him, national shooting championships typically attract around 6,000 shooters from across India and run for nearly a month, generating significant business for hotels, restaurants, transport operators and other local enterprises while also boosting tourism.
At present, Meghalaya has only limited shooting infrastructure. In November 2020, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma inaugurated a 10-metre Indoor Precision Shooting Range at Demthring Lumjingsuk in Shillong. However, the facility caters only to 10-metre events, whereas competitive shooting also includes 25-metre and 50-metre disciplines that require specialised ranges equipped with electronic target systems meeting national and international standards.
Most shooters in Meghalaya currently train at makeshift facilities in Nongthymmai, the Police Reserve and other temporary venues, limiting opportunities to practise under competition-standard conditions.
Once realised, the integrated shooting range would not only bridge Meghalaya’s long-standing infrastructure gap but also position the state as a destination for major shooting events while creating opportunities for local athletes to train at home rather than travel outside the state.
