“My name is Mohammed Ali Hussain. I’m 14 years old and a shooting athlete from Hyderabad.

I recently competed at the 68th National Rifle Shooting Championship of India 2025 in Bhopal.

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The championship brought together over 6,000 shooters from across the country, including personnel from the Indian Armed Forces, civil services, government departments, and civilian categories, with participants ranging in age up to 70. It was my first national-level appearance, and standing there was both humbling and motivating.

I competed in the 50-metre Rifle Prone event under the Junior and Civilian categories. After the competition, I qualified as a national-level shooting athlete, becoming the youngest shooter from Telangana to achieve this distinction in my very first attempt. That moment reinforced the importance of patience, focus, and consistency.

Training has taught me discipline and self-control—qualities that matter both on and off the range. Shooting has shown me how important it is to stay calm under pressure and to trust the process, one shot at a time.

Outside the range, I am a Class 8 student. Alongside academics, I pursue my Hifz studies and engage in community service, including feeding people daily and teaching children in slum areas. Balancing studies, training, and service has helped build structure and responsibility from a young age.

My father, Mohammed Asif Hussain Sohail, is a social worker and activist in Hyderabad. He runs the Sakina Foundation, which provides daily food, education support, medical camps, skill development, and awareness programmes across the city and beyond. Growing up around this work shaped my understanding of effort, commitment, and consistency.

Officials from the Telangana Rifle Association and the Sports Authority of Telangana have acknowledged my performance and potential. Their encouragement motivates me to keep improving and aim higher with every competition.

My dream is to represent India at the Olympic Games and compete internationally. My journey so far has shown me that age is not a limitation, and with the right guidance and commitment, young athletes from Telangana can shine on the national stage.”