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For the first time in Sri Lanka, a Level 111 International Practical Pistol Shooting Championship was held from Sept. 24 to 27 at the Police STF Shooting Range, Kutukurunda with the participation of World Class Shooters including three Grandmasters from Philippines, Australia, USA, Czech Republic, Norway and Denmark. This International Shooting championship was initiated by the Johnston Fernando, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports who himself is a keen Practical Shooter.

The Steering Committee appointed by the Minister to organise this historic event was headed by Ravi Jayewardene who incidentally introduced the sport to Sri Lanka with Dallas Martenstyn as Secretary and Air Vice Marshall Elmo Perera (Retired) doing yeoman service as Administrative Secretary.

Hemasiri Fernando (President, NOC) being the Regional Director for the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) was responsible for arranging the all important sponsorship package by the main sponsors Dialog GSM and co-sponsors Lanka Cement, Maga Engineering, Senok Trade Combine, SriLankan Airlines, Czech Air Lines and Kani Lanka Resort and Spa, which was the match headquarters without whose support this event would not have been a success.

The championship was conducted by the international Range Officers Association (IROA) with Range Masters from Australia, Philippines and Papua New Guinea. The Match Director was Sarath de Zoysa who is the only Internationally Accredited Chief Range Officer in Sri Lanka assisted by members of the National Range Officers Institute (NROI). The logistic and manpower support was provided by DIG Nimal Lewke, Commandant, STF and his Director Training, SP Rishard.

The chief guest at the colourful opening ceremony including a fabulous cultural show for the benefit of the foreign participants was Rajitha Senaratne, Minister of Lands with Ministers Johnston Fernando and Susantha Punchinilame being shooters themselves and several other distinguished guest in attendance. Tilak Marapana, Minister of Defence and Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation was the chief guest at the equally grand awards ceremony and banquet at Hotel Tangerine.

About 40 foreign and 150 local participants competed for international and national titles in the fiercely contested shooting match consisting 12 stages over 3 days. As usual it was the Sri Lankan lady shooters who stole the limelight with their fast and accurate shooting. Inoka Weerasinghe emerged as the Ladies Champion with Manjula Kumudini finishing as 1st Runner-up (both of SL Air Force) ahead of Grace Tan from the Philippines who is ranked as No. 2 in the world having even beaten the World Champion recently. Inoka was awarded the IPSC President's Medal for her individual performance in addition to the Ladies Championship Trophy.

The fact that both Inoka and Manjula using obsolete .45 ACP Pistols beat Grace Tan who uses an ultra modern .38 Super racegun speaks volumes for their shooting skills. Inoka also beat Grace in a thrilling and action packed Shoot-out in the presence of a large gathering of spectators. Given modern Shooting equipment there is no doubt that Inoka and Manjula will be strong contenders for top honours at the next World Championships.

In the men's category in open division, Filipino Grandmasters Michael Ku and Jug Lejano finished 1st and 2nd respectively followed by Miroslav Havlicek of the Czech Republic, Kyrre Lee of Norway and Janaka Ritigahapola of Sri Lanka in 5th place. Michael Ku was awarded the IPSC President's Medal for Open Division and Filipino Junior Shooter Stephen Hinojales who finished an incredible 6th Overall was awarded the IPSC President's Medal for his category.

Grace Tan's father, Roland Tan who finished 11th Overall won the Senior Category Championship and the President's Medal whilst Sarath de Zoysa was awarded the Super Senior Category Championship Trophy and President's Medal. The Standard Division was dominated by the foreign shooters winning the Top 6 places. Evens Skaarer of Norway won the championship and the President's medal followed by Raif Jensen of Denmark and Lyndon Birago of the Philippines.

Sri Lankan shooters were more competitive in the Production Division in which Jay Morales of Philippines won the championship and the President's Medal followed by Chaminda Prasad and Sumal Silva in 2nd and 3rd places respectively.

In addition to the Championship trophies and President's Medals three competition firearms were presented by the Manufacturers: STI International of USA, Arms Corporation of the Philippines and CZ of the Czech Republic to the winners of Open, Standard and Production Divisions respectively. Unfortunately all three firearms were won by foreign shooters.

The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports stated that this will be an annual event in future so that the technique and equipment used by the best Practical Shooters in the world will be exposed to all Sri Lankan shooters which will automatically improve the standard of the Sport in Sri Lanka, Practical Shooting is all about Accuracy, Power and Speed (Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas).

Unless you see it with your own eyes you will never believe that a Handgun could be fired so fast and accurately with so much power to knockdown metal targets in a matter of seconds! It is challenging for the Shooter and exciting for the spectator.

Engaging static, moving, swinging and disappearing targets at distances varying from 3 to 50 metres from improvised positions or whilst moving at breathtaking speed until the Course of fire is completed in the fastest possible time is the ultimate challenge in shooting which requires perfect coordination of mind, body, eyes, reflexes and of course the firearm working flawlessly.

To see a well trained World Class Shooter in action is worth going a long way to see.

Now thanks to the Hon. Minister's initiative this spectacular Sport is open to Sri Lankans at the highest level. There is no doubt that the Sri Lankan Shooters will take up the challenge and match the international standards before next year's Championships.

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