Ali Hussain, youngest shooter from Telangana, shines among national talent in Bhopal

Hyderabad: Mohammed Ali Hussain, who has just turned 14, qualified as a nationally renowned shooting athlete in his very first attempt, becoming the youngest shooter from Telangana to achieve this distinction.

He competed in the 50-metre Rifle Prone event under the Junior and Civilian categories, earning national recognition at one of India’s toughest shooting championships.

Most competitive shooting event in country

The event was part of the 68th National Rifle Shooting Championship of India 2025, held in Bhopal.

It was one of the largest and most competitive shooting events in the country, with over 6,000 participants. Shooters included personnel from the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, IAS, IPS (Civil Services), various Central and State government departments and civilian athletes, ranging in age up to 75 years.

The championship tested precision, discipline and consistency at the highest national level.

Team from Telangana earns national recognition

Ali’s success was a team effort, said his father, Asif Sohail.

Along with Meraj, Huzaifa, and Mustafa, he trained under the mentorship of Imran (Armourer and Coach) and Omar, a former national-level shooter and gold medallist.

Notably, the entire team qualified and earned national recognition.

Ali's journey from community service to national glory

Currently a Class 8 student, Ali has successfully balanced academics, Hifz studies and social responsibility from a young age.

He has actively participated in community service, including feeding people daily and teaching children in slum areas. His upbringing has instilled strong values of discipline, focus, empathy and perseverance, clearly reflected in his calm and mature approach to competition—shaped by the guidance and values imparted by his father and mother.

“In a very short time and with limited practice, Ali has achieved this milestone. He has the potential to become a future wonder for India on the international shooting stage,” said Sandeep, Coach at the Sports Authority of Telangana (SATS).

However, a look at the state of training practise throws light on the need of the hour: serious and immediate upgradation of the infrastructure at the state’s shooting range.

Poor condition of SATS Shooting Range

The journey so far for the sportspersons was far from easy.

The SATS Shooting Range, where the team trained, is in such a dilapidated condition that a proper competition cannot even be conducted there.

With only three electronic targets for hundreds of athletes, many of which are often non-functional, and limited ammunition availability, training posed serious challenges. Despite these constraints, the team displayed exceptional skill, focus and sportsmanship.

Speaking to NewsMeter, Asif Sohail explained the infrastructure issues facing aspiring shooters in the state: “The shooters have no chance of seeing their shots on a computer because the range doesn’t have it. They must check every attempt manually, which is time-consuming. Apart from that, the Telangana government provides a few guns for training, and the ammunition is expensive to buy on one's own.”

Our government should look at the infrastructure and equipment being provided to athletes at the Bhopal shooting academy. The Telangana government should match up to those standards, said Asif Sohail, who is a philanthropist and an activist.

Aiming for Olympic for India

Ali Hussain aspires to represent India at the Olympic Games and bring home a gold medal for the nation. His journey stands as a powerful reminder that talent exists everywhere—but opportunity does not.

This raises an important question: If such results are possible under these conditions, what could Telangana’s shooters achieve with proper infrastructure and institutional support?

An invitation to CM Revanth to visit SATS shooting range

Asif Sohail said, “Telangana has immense talent in shooting sports, but there is a serious lack of infrastructure and structured platforms. With proper international-standard facilities and support, our shooters can achieve medals at the global level. I urge Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and the SATS Chairman to visit the training facilities and see the ground reality. With timely support, Telangana can emerge as a strong force in shooting sports.”

He also expressed heartfelt gratitude to Sandeep (SATS Coach), Kiran (General Secretary, Telangana Rifle Association), and Imran (Armourer and Coach) for their dedicated guidance and mentorship, which played a crucial role in helping Ali and several other athletes attain national recognition.

Recognising Ali’s achievement, Kiran said, “Becoming Telangana’s youngest nationally renowned shooting athlete in the very first attempt is remarkable. Mohammed Ali Hussain has immense potential to represent India at national and international levels.”

The journey of Telangana’s budding sportspersons like Ali and others continues to inspire young athletes across the state, while highlighting the urgent need for institutional support to nurture emerging sports talent.