Journalism of Courage
It is not an everyday sight where a group of girls diligently perform drills at obstacle courses that are on par with those used by the armed forces,or display a stead hand eye co-ordination to shoot targets at a professionally designed shooting range.
And this was exactly what happened at the NCC headquarters located off Law College Road from July 19 to 25 at the Inter-group Thal Sainik Competition that was held by the Maharashtra Directorate. The competition was a part of the selection process to determine the team that will represent the Maharashtra Directorate at the Thal Sainik Camp in Delhi from September 2-13.
At the award ceremony that was held on Monday,Major General Yashwant Singh ADG Maharashtra Directorate,spoke about the glorious tradition of the state Directorate. We have been the best directorate in the country for the last two years and we aim to continue this tradition this year too, he says. Over the last two years the state has been adjudged the best directorate at the national Thal Sainik Camp,under the PM’s banner.
The girls from Pune won a total of seven individual medals and two trophies in the Map reading and the Obstacle Course finishing in a close second behind Kolhapur. Lance Corporal Anagha Nalawankar who won a medal at the Advanced Rifle Shooting competition says,The competition aimed at bringing out the best in all the girls and winning it was very special. And even though we couldn’t win the overall championship this time we hope to do the same the next year. The girls were instructed by Sub Maj K Shankar (overall incharge),Sub Sanjay Zanjurne (Physical obstacles),Hav. Pundlik Yallari (Firing,Map reading),Hav Prakash Lonar (Judging Distance) and Sub Dalbir Singh (Field Signal),while Col GK Pandey was in charge of the Pune Group.
