CHANDIGARH: Deepinder Singh, a product of the Punjab Rifle Shooting Association’s coaching centre at the Patiala Rao Ranges here, has achieved remarkable success.
Standing five feet 10 inches in his socks, Deepinder is a student of Class X of Yadvindra Public School, SAS Nagar. He represented Punjab in the 1988 National Rifle Shooting Championship at Delhi and claimed a gold medal in air rifle (10 m) event. He created a new record of 288 out of 400 points in the subjunior 1215 years age group. The previous record was 277 points. Besides he won a bronze medal in the air pistol (10 m) event, securing 316/400 points.
Deepinder took to shooting in 1982 after watching events in the ninth Asian Games at Delhi. For this, he owes much to his great grandfather, Major RS. Dhillon a celebrity in the field his mother Kaushalpal Kaur, a national level shooter and his aunt Nirpal Kaur another ace markswomen of the country. Deepinder watched them at. their training stints at the Patiala Rao Ranges, and this encouraged him a great deal.
Deepinder says he goes through a strenuous “dry shooting practice” at home and at the shooting ranges to acquire prowess. In his debut appearance in 1987 at the Kartar Singh Sarabha Trophy Competition he helped his school won the trophy at the Bir Haqeegat Rai Shooting Competition.
He won the gold in air rifle (1012 year age group) and came second in air pistol (10m) in the same age group. In air rifle (10m) men’s section at the 25th Punjab State Rifle Shooting Championship held in 1988, Deepinder finished second.
Born on August 7, 1974, Deepinder devotes a great deal of his time fiddling with electronic appliances.
Deepinder says: “I have decided to follow the footsteps of the shooters of my family. Besides, becoming an international shooter, I want to become a leading electronics engineer.”
Article extracted from this publication >> September 15, 1989
