Sikkim has achieved a landmark in competitive shooting as Laxuman Adhikari won a bronze medal in the Master Men’s 10m Air Pistol Individual category at the 13th North East Zone Shooting Championship 2026 in Guwahati, Assam, becoming the first shooter from the state to win a medal at the North East Zonal level. The championship, held from August 25 to 30 under the aegis of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), saw 11 shooters represent Sikkim.
Alongside Adhikari’s historic finish, Anu Chettri qualified for the 69th National Shooting Championship 2026 in 10m Air Pistol, while Tshering Yangden Bhutia qualified in 10m Air Rifle. The results mark a significant step for Sikkim’s young shooting programme, with the state’s Rifle Association established only in 2024.
Historic Bronze For Sikkim
Adhikari’s bronze marks the first time a shooter representing Sikkim has stood on the podium at the North East Zonal level. He competed in the Master Men’s 10m Air Pistol Individual category at the Kahilipara Shooting Range in Guwahati, where shooters from across the northeastern region competed. A total of 11 athletes represented Sikkim, with the contingent comprising eight pistol shooters and three rifle shooters.
The achievement is particularly significant given the relatively recent development of organised shooting in Sikkim. The Sikkim Rifle Association (SRA) was established in 2024 and is affiliated with the NRAI. It currently operates the state’s first fully equipped indoor shooting facility and has 92 registered members, ranging in age from nine to 64.
Adhikari had already shown promise at the state level. At Sikkim’s inaugural State Shooting Championship in June, he won silver in the Master Men’s 10m Air Pistol Individual category. He was among the 12 shooters who qualified from that championship for the subsequent North East Zone and pre-national competitions.
The association’s leadership had also spoken about the importance of creating sustained opportunities for local athletes. Ahead of the zonal championship, SRA President Sanjay Budhathoki said Sikkim had no shortage of shooting talent but needed consistent encouragement and opportunities to develop future medallists. “We should give them a little push, and we can produce future medallists, but there has to be consistency,” he told media reporters.
Two Shooters Reach Nationals
Adhikari’s medal was accompanied by two more important results for Sikkim. Anu Chettri and Tshering Yangden Bhutia qualified for the 69th National Shooting Championship 2026 after their performances in Guwahati. Chettri secured qualification in 10m Air Pistol, while Bhutia qualified in 10m Air Rifle.
Both shooters had already emerged as leading performers at the state championship. Chettri won gold in the Women’s 10m Air Pistol Individual category, while Bhutia topped the Women’s 10m Air Rifle Individual event. Their progression from the state championship to the zonal meet and now the national championship reflects the competitive pathway being developed for Sikkim’s shooters.
The wider participation also highlights the growing involvement of women in the sport. The inaugural Sikkim State Shooting Championship featured 22 competitors, including 14 women athletes. The event was organised as a qualifying platform for higher-level competitions and produced 12 shooters who advanced to the North East Zone and pre-national stages.
The SRA had been keen to use the zonal championship as an opportunity for athletes to gain experience beyond the state. Before the team travelled to Assam, Sikkim State Sports Development Board Chairman Rinzing Wangyal Chopel praised the association’s progress and assured continued government support. Sports and Youth Affairs Secretary Yangchen Doma Tamang similarly encouraged the athletes to remain consistent in their training, noting that building an Olympian requires years of sustained effort.
Budhathoki, meanwhile, said the association’s broader plans include expanding shooting infrastructure to districts such as Namchi, offering scholarships to promising shooters and conducting talent hunts among the Sikkim Police, Indian Reserve Battalion and State Armed Police.
Building A Sporting Pathway
The Guwahati result follows a significant year for shooting in Sikkim. The state held its first-ever State Shooting Championship in June, with athletes competing in 10m Air Pistol and 10m Peep Sight Air Rifle events. The championship was officially recognised as a qualifying event for the North East Zone Championship and Pre-National Shooting Championship.
The Sikkim Rifle Association has described its development as part of a longer-term effort to establish a structured shooting culture in the state. At a pre-championship briefing, Budhathoki said the association had secured NRAI affiliation so that state competitions and team selections could follow national standards. He also stressed the importance of grassroots development and creating opportunities for young athletes.
The 13th North East Zone Championship provided the first major regional test of that system. The NRAI had scheduled the competition from August 25 to 30 at the Assam Rifle and Shooting Association’s Guwahati Sports Shooting Range in Kahilipara.
Sikkim’s progress also came amid a highly competitive regional field. Assam finished the championship at the top of the overall medal table with 80 medals, while Meghalaya secured 37 and Manipur 31. For Sikkim, however, Adhikari’s historic bronze and the two national qualifications represented meaningful progress for a programme still in its formative years.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Laxuman Adhikari’s bronze is more than a sporting milestone for Sikkim it is a reminder of what sustained opportunity and grassroots investment can make possible. In a state where organised shooting is still relatively new, the achievement of one athlete and the national qualification of two others show why sporting ecosystems cannot be built overnight.
They require infrastructure, coaching, encouragement, access and, most importantly, consistency. The Sikkim Rifle Association’s emphasis on making shooting accessible across age groups and developing talent beyond Gangtok is encouraging because sporting success should not be limited by geography or the availability of opportunities.
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