Promising Odisha markswoman Kashika Pradhan created history as she won the gold medal on her debut in the 50m Rifle Three Position Women (ISSF) Civilian category of the ongoing 67th National Shooting Championship, at Madhya Pradesh State Academy (MPSA) Shooting Range in Bhopal today.

Kashika became the second woman shooter from Odisha to win a gold medal in the National Championship after the most-decorated Shriyanka Sadangi, who also did it also in womens 50m Rifle Three Position at the 64th National Championship at the same venue on 6 December 2021.

“I feel happy that I participated in the National championship for the first time and won the gold in my first event. Nobody expected me to win a medal on my National debut. So, winning the gold was a wonderful surprise. But I worked hard for this championship and performed up to my expectations,” shared 22-year-old Kashika over phone.

“The gold medal has immensely boosted my confidence and I hope to do well in my pet event, which is 10m Air Rifle, day after tomorrow,” added Kashika, who trains at Odisha Aditya Birla Gagan Narang Shooting High Performance Centre, Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar as well as in Pune and Chennai.

Daughter of Biswanath and Anubha Pradhan, Kashika has been pursuing shooting sports for nearly a decade. The talent in her came to limelight when she won a bronze medal at the CBSE National Shooting Competition in 2016. Besides shooting, Kashika pursues a course in Chartered Accountancy.