Akash Kumar Ravidas (left) at his felicitation organised by the JRA. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, April 11: Quietly but steadily, Akash Kumar Ravidas has become a shooting star. He has been selected to represent India in the shooting meet to be held in Suhl, Germany, from May 14.

After Germany, he will go to Czechoslovakia for a championship beginning June 13. As of now, he has been asked to report at the coaching camp to be held at Dr Karni Singh Shooting Ranges, New Delhi, on May 8.

Akash, who hails from Jharkhand, is part of the 39-member contingent selected for the event, according to the list the National Rifle Association of India mailed to the Jharkhand Rifle Association (JRA).

The unassuming 19-year-old has bagged a number of medals, yet has remained unnoticed. Even the state sports department could not spot the talent. Perhaps that explains why he was not feted and awarded by the state sports department at a function held last month.

“He is the first in the state to win laurels in shooting and that too without adequate facilities,” said JRA secretary S.M. Thakur. “We are proud of him because he added rifle shooting to the state’s medal winning events such as hockey, archery and athletics.”

The latest achievement of Akash was winning gold in the 50-metre free rifle three-position shooting during the nationals in Indore last December. Akash had also come third in the GV Mavlankar shooting competition, held at Asansol in October 2006. At the 33rd National Games in Assam, he had scored 1,085 points out of 1,200 but was unlucky as far as winning medal is concerned.

His forte is the 0.22 rifle shooting in kneeling, prone and standing positions at a target 50-metres away. He is also a keen NCC cadet of the 22 Battalion and has deferred taking the test for the C certificate because of his international commitments.

But the BA student of Ananda College, Hazaribagh, does not have much to say. “I am fortunate to get permission to practice shooting at the firing range in Bariatu,” Akash said.

Sources close to him said he had to spend about Rs 2,500 to get a passport under the Tatkal scheme. The other expenses for the foreign trips are fortunately being borne by the National Rifle Association of India, said Thakur.

The state rifle association and the office-bearers of other sports associations today felicitated Akash. Conspicuous by their absence were senior and junior officials from the department of sports and youth welfare.

Perhaps when he wins the gold at the international meet the officials will take note of the promising talent, said a sports association office-bearer.