Meerut Boy Shahzar Rizvi Makes India Proud, Wins Gold At The Commonwealth Shooting Championship
The event happened in Australia
There was joy and excitement at the residence of 23-year-old Meerut boy Shahzar Rizvi, who won gold in the 10m air pistol event at the Commonwealth shooting championship in Australia on Wednesday. Indian shooters registered a 1-2-3 finish in the men¡¯s 10m air pistol with Rizvi, a resident of Meerut¡¯s Chhota Mawana village, claiming gold ahead of Omkar Singh (silver) and Jitu Rai (bronze) at Brisbane.
In the women's 10m air rifle event, India¡¯s Pooja Ghatkar won gold with a score of 249.8 in the final, beating India compatriot Anjum Moudgil (248.7), who claimed silver. India won two golds, two silvers and one bronze medal at the championship in Australia on Wednesday.
Talking to TOI over phone from Australia, Shahzar Rizvi said, ¡°I am extremely happy for winning a gold medal here and I cannot wait to get home and meet my family. As of now, I am aiming at winning gold medal in 10th Asian Airgun Championship in Japan, which is set to take place in December this year. Also, I want to make my country proud by winning a gold medal in the 2020 Olympics.¡±
Rizvi¡¯s father Shamshaad Ahmed, a freight contractor at a private company in Meerut, said, ¡°All of us at home are very happy for him. He has done the entire country proud. I still remember the day nine years ago when he told me how he wanted to train as a shooter. I did not have enough money to buy him a gun, but I told him to pursue his dream and he started practising by borrowing weapons from others. It was only in 2012 that he got a gun of his own.¡±
Shahzar completed his schooling from Jawahar Inter College in Meerut and started pursuing his dream. He went on to win a silver medal in the 58th National Shooting Championship Competition (NSCC), Pune in 2014 and then won a gold medal in the 59th NSCC, Delhi in 2015.
¡°His gold medal in Delhi helped him secure a place in Indian Air Force, where he works as a sergeant. After he got employed with IAF, his game improved further as he got access to better weapons. Later, he got a bronze medal in National Games 2015 and a gold medal in 9th Asian Airgun Championship in Iran,¡± said Ahmar Rizvi, Shahzar¡¯s younger brother. Ahmar is also a shooter and has played till pre-nationals. A head injury had forced him to opt out for some time, but he is back now and aims for the nationals.
Shahzar¡¯s mother Shahjahan Rizvi ¨C a homemaker ¨C says she is eagerly waiting for her son¡¯s arrival. The gold medallist is going to tie the knot with a local girl on November 18. The family said his victory in Australia has doubled their excitement and happiness for his wedding.
