Budding shooter-turned-tea seller knocks at MLA’s door

Ranchi: Nineteen-year-old budding shooter Akash Kujur is expecting to own a rifle and resume his practice soon, thanks to Mandar MLA Bandhu Tirkey. His earlier rifle became faulty and the practice stopped. Kujur, a state-level shooter, then started a tea stall with his parents in Mandar block of Ranchi to run their family and sometimes go to the shooting range with the common gun provided by the state association. However, after the lockdown was enforced, their tea stall stopped and the family has been staring at an uncertain future.
On Monday, Kujur and his mother knocked at the doors of Tirkey and narrated their plight. The MLA promised all necessary help and said, “Someone brought him and his mother at my place this morning. I was moved by his plight and promised to help him get back to the game after the lockdown. I will also speak to chief minister Hemant Soren to explore what all government help I can gather. Players are our future and it is our responsibility to nurture them.”
Jharkhand has been home to several national and international players from across different sport disciplines, especially in hockey, football and archery, but many of them are living in abject poverty without either government or private patronage. In such a situation, they are forced to abandon their games and come out to the streets to eke out a living.
Talking to TOI, Kujur said he is hopeful to train with his own gun again. He said, “Although the state association has given one common rifle for a few players, it’s a game which requires personalised kit and immense concentration. In the past, I managed to buy one by arranging the money somehow, but is not possible to do so now.”
He further said the lockdown has robbed their earnings and pushed them to the brink of starvation. “The tea stall is the only way for us to earn money. But the business has completely stopped for months now. How can I even think of buying a rifle?” said Kujur, who took part in the 63rd National Championship n Bhopal. He failed to qualify for the finals because of the faulty rifle. He had also been part of several state and pre-national meets, including the 2011 National Games held in Ranchi.
Kujur, who sat for the inter-final year examination from St Xavier’s college, is currently awaiting for results. His brother is scouting for a job after graduating from Marwari College. “I am eagerly waiting to return to the Khelgaon shooting range with my own rifle to practise for this year’s national meet,” he added.