Jamshedpur, August 30, 2026: A promising shooting talent from East Singhbhum has put Jharkhand in the spotlight at the 10th East Zone Shooting Championship 2026. Jamshedpur’s Ankita Bose won the gold medal in the Junior Women’s 50m Free Pistol event at the Asansol Shooting Range in West Bengal, emerging as Jharkhand’s only gold medal winner at the championship.
The competition, held from August 25 to 30, brought together shooters from six states across multiple categories. Ankita’s performance stood out as one of the state’s biggest achievements at the pre-national level event.
Gold in 50m Free Pistol Event
Ankita competed in the Junior Women’s 50m Free Pistol category and finished at the top to secure the gold medal.
The championship featured events for men, women, juniors, seniors and masters. Despite participation across several categories, Ankita was the only shooter from Jharkhand to claim a gold medal during the competition.
Her result also underlined her ability to perform at a competitive pre-national level, particularly in a sport where meeting the required qualifying standards is itself a significant challenge.
Achievement Made More Significant by Limited Financial Support
Ankita’s gold medal carries added significance because competitive shooting involves considerable expenses related to equipment, training and participation.
According to those associated with her journey, she achieved the feat without major financial backing. While several shooters from Jharkhand could not clear the Minimum Qualifying Score (MQS) at the championship, Ankita crossed the required benchmark and went on to win the event.
Her performance has therefore been seen as a result of sustained effort, determination and competitive discipline.
East Singhbhum Administration Supported Her Participation
Support from the East Singhbhum district administration also helped Ankita prepare for and participate in the championship.
The administration provided necessary assistance, including support related to sporting equipment, which helped her compete at the event. Her achievement has brought recognition to East Singhbhum as well as Jharkhand and the South Eastern Railway community.
Medal Ceremony Held in Asansol
The medal distribution ceremony was held on August 30 in the presence of several public representatives.
Among those present were Asansol MP Shatrughan Sinha, West Bengal Minister Arjun Singh, Asansol MLA Krishnendu Mukherjee and Bihar MLA Chetan Anand. Chetan Anand also participated in the shooting championship as a competitor.
A Boost for Shooting in Jharkhand
Ankita’s achievement is being viewed as an encouraging development for shooting in Jharkhand. Her journey demonstrates that athletes can compete at higher levels even with limited resources when backed by consistent preparation and determination.
The gold medal is also expected to inspire more young shooters from the state to pursue the sport and aim for national-level competition.
