American shooter wins US titleafter training in India

Highlights:

AMERICAN rifle shooter Jeff Browning (pictured) returned to the United States after nearly two years of training in India and went on to win the 10m air rifle event at the US National Championship in Camp Perry, Ohio.

Browning had trained at the Topgun Shooting Academy in New Delhi during his stay in India. Within a month of returning to the United States, he won the national title while representing the Virginia State team. He said the coaching and support he received in India played an important role in helping him improve his shooting and remain competitive.

A competitive shooter since 2012, Browning spent nearly two years working on his technique at the academy before returning home to compete in the national championship. His title win marked the end of his training stint in India.

“I had been a competitive shooter in the United States since 2012 and wanted to continue pursuing the sport while living in India. When I arrived in Delhi in the summer of 2023, Shimon Sharif and the coaches at Topgun Shooting Academy gave me the opportunity to train in the 10m air rifle.

“I returned to the United States last month, and within a month of my return, I won the US National Championship. I am truly grateful to the academy for the training, guidance, and support I received during my time in India. The experience played an important role in helping me continue competing at the highest level,” Browning added.

For his performance at the championship, Browning was awarded the Leatherneck Trophy, one of the honors presented during the National Matches at Camp Perry.

The academy’s association with the US shooting community, however, extends beyond Browning’s success.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, when international travel and competitions came to a halt, the academy organized virtual competitions that helped shooters continue competing despite lockdowns. The events allowed athletes from different countries to stay match-ready while many in-person competitions remained suspended.

The online competitions attracted participants from around the world, including several members of the US Olympic shooting team as they prepared for the postponed Tokyo Olympics.

Among those who took part was American shooter William Shaner, who later won the gold medal in the men’s 10m air rifle event at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. American shooter Lucas Kozeniesky, who later won the silver medal in the 10m air rifle mixed team event at the Tokyo Games, also competed in the academy’s virtual competitions during the pandemic.

“It’s a matter of immense pride for us to have contributed to the development of rifle shooters from several countries, including the US.

“Jeff Browning’s national title is another feather in our cap and reinforces our belief that quality coaching and a competitive training environment can help athletes perform at the highest level, regardless of where they come from,” said Sharif, founder of the academy.