Himalaya Harbinger, Uttarakhand Bureau
Rudrapur: In a significant achievement for Uttarakhand, Dhairya Dangi, a Class XII student of Delhi Public School, Rudrapur, has been selected as the only Under-19 shooter from Uttarakhand in the 10m Air Pistol category for India’s inaugural School Shooting Premier League (SSPL). He was picked by the Mumbai Titans franchise during the league auction held at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi, on the night of July 21.
The School Shooting Premier League features eight franchises—Mumbai Titans, UP Legends, Haryana Defenders, Jaipur Royals, Odisha Hawks, Bengaluru Bulls Eye, Bengal Knights, and Delhi Heroes. The league aims to provide a national platform to emerging school shooters and promote the sport across the country.
The selection process began in October 2025, with trials conducted across multiple states and cities. Based on their performances, only the top 25 shooters from across India were shortlisted in each category. During the auction, every franchise selected two shooters from this elite pool, making Dangi’s selection a testament to his consistent performance, discipline, and dedication.
Dhairya trains at the state-of-the-art shooting range located within the DPS Rudrapur campus. The school’s sports ecosystem, combined with advanced training facilities, has played a vital role in nurturing his talent.
The young shooter has already established an impressive record at the state, zonal, and national levels. Most recently, at the Inter DPS National Shooting Championship 2026, he scored an outstanding 392 out of 400 to win the individual gold medal and also helped his team secure the team gold medal.
Shooting excellence runs in the Dangi family. Dhairya’s mother and sister are both national-level shooters who have won medals at various national competitions. His father, Bharat Singh Dangi, serves as an Executive Engineer in the Irrigation Department, Rudrapur, and has been a constant source of encouragement throughout his sporting journey.
A major share of the credit also goes to his coach, Nakul Chaudhary, whose technical expertise, mentorship, and continuous guidance have played a pivotal role in shaping Dhairya into one of the country’s promising young shooters.
Expressing gratitude on the occasion, the Dangi family thanked DPS Rudrapur Chairman Surjit Singh Grover, Vice Chairman Harman Singh Grover, and Principal Chetan Chauhan for their unwavering support. They highlighted that the school offers world-class modern infrastructure, more than 14 sporting disciplines, and a fully equipped modern shooting range, along with expert coaching and continuous encouragement for budding athletes. According to the family, this strong sporting environment has been instrumental in helping Dhairya achieve success at the national level.
The management of Delhi Public School, Rudrapur congratulated Dhairya on this landmark achievement and expressed confidence that he would continue to bring laurels to the school, Uttarakhand, and the nation.
The announcement has been widely welcomed by sports enthusiasts, teachers, students, parents, and residents of the district, who have extended their congratulations and wished Dhairya success in the upcoming School Shooting Premier League.
