By Gan Xin Xiang (22S06D), Captain, Tay Li Ann (22S03L), Vice-Captain, Ng Yin Zi (22S06E), Vice-Captain
You landed on this page — bullseye!
Shooting might seem like an exotic CCA in Singapore, a country with one of the strictest gun laws. Nevertheless, our CCA still exists (thankfully).
A question many people have about shooting is: Why is it a sport? Whoever made shooting a sport must have been nuts. Reason 1: Physical exertion is probably as rare as finding a whale on land. Reason 2: Look at reason number 1. According to Google, a sport is “an activity involving physical exertion and skill”. Being the complete opposite, what actually makes us a sport?
To the untrained eye, shooters may seem to just stand at one spot and raise their guns, then put it down after we press the trigger. Sounds really simple, right? Not really, considering the fact that a typical rifle and pistol we use weigh about 5kg and 1.5kg respectively. The bullseye (which shooters are expected to hit most of the time) is only 0.5mm in diameter, the size of a full stop! Besides, imagine controlling your every movement down to the millimetre 60 times, with all sorts of distracting thoughts running through our heads while the competition timer ticks away. Not exactly easy.
Shooting is much more than a physical sport, it is also a mental one. We are not just trained to shoot, we are trained to focus, to breathe, and most importantly, to believe. It is the mental endurance that keeps us going during competitions. It is often joked but also heavily emphasised that we should not focus so much on our shots and scores during the process of shooting. Ironically, being fixated on shooting well often leads to us performing worse. The increased heart rate and blood pressure from overthinking and worrying will cause the gun to sway!
‘Shooting’ has earned itself a dangerous name in the past few years, but it is safe to say that our CCA is really not as bad as it seems! Unlike other sports that may require lots of physical activity, shooting is relatively mild. It is rare that we experience other injuries other than, maybe, sore arms and aching backs. If that is what you’re looking for, to be in a ‘mock jock’ CCA, then look no further! Shooting may just be the right fit for you!
We’re generally a chill CCA. We spend our time either shooting or spending time with our friends, because that is what a family is all about. Shooting is a relatively small CCA, with around 20 members in total. However, it is precisely because we are a small CCA that we are able to bond more and forge stronger ties with our CCA mates. Training is never dull as we talk to each other and share about our week’s happenings during break times. Training sessions are usually three times a week (2.5 to 3 hours each), on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during competition season, and twice during other parts of the year.
Another thing about shooting that sets it apart from other sports is that we have much, much less competition. Unlike other sports that have students coming from all over Singapore to compete, shooting is only a CCA in a handful of schools, which drastically decreases the number of competitors, and simultaneously increases the chances of getting a gold. What a Win-Win CCA.
At the end of the two years in Shooting, we walk away with not just skills on how to shoot, but also the capability to control and relax our mind under great pressure, as well as many friendships that will last beyond our JC days! At the end of the day, the friendship and memories we make are what truly matters.
*Cover image taken in accordance with SMMs during the prior phase of Covid-19 measures.
The training I received in the Air Rifle Club under CPT Tan was instrumental in my attainment of marksman status and being chosen to represent my formation in shooting during national service.