By Shooting EXCO ’25
Adapted from CCA Previews ‘25
Tucked behind the school, unbeknownst to most students, hides Raffles Institution’s very own shooting range—a second home to our shooters. Singapore’s strict gun laws have limited one’s knowledge to merely Nerf guns, yet Raffles Shooting is more than familiar with the feeling of firing a shot.
As the range door swings open, everyone rushes to collect their weapons, fill their air cylinders, and hurry to their respective lanes. The witty banter subsides into tranquility. Only clicks from the dryfiring of guns can be heard. When the first shot is fired, nobody flinches—as everyone is deeply immersed in training.
Shooting consists of two categories—air rifle and air pistol. While most sports value an athlete’s physical strength and speed, Shooting is a completely different ball game—it rewards those with exceptional mental strength. Though the idea of aiming at a target and shooting a 10 may seem simple, it’s not a simple feat. It requires one to be precise, patient, and focused for prolonged periods of time.
For qualifications, we’re tasked with fighting a long battle lasting 60 shots. Even one misfire could largely influence the overall outcome, and only the most determined and level-headed shooters emerge victorious.
Yet, that is only the beginning. The top 24 shooters proceed to compete in the finals, where they are forced to withstand the pressures that come with multiple rounds of elimination, until only one remains. Cheering reverberates throughout the range, the audience gradually begins clapping faster, and shooters at their lanes try to calm their quickening heartbeats. All eyes are on them.
Our rigorous training prepares us for that very moment, equipping shooters with the ability to set aside the desire of shooting straight 10s, instead placing their focus on the mind and body. With RI being one of the few schools in Singapore with full electronic target systems in our range, our training sessions are able to replicate competition conditions and allow our shooters to be more well-versed in navigating the circumstances that will arise in competition.
Shooting isn’t just about squeezing the trigger when the time is right and hoping for the best, it demands a level of self-awareness and discipline, as well as the constant pursuit of perfection. With its delicate and precise nature, Shooting is as much of an art as it is a sport. These skills maintain their relevance even beyond the sport, as shooters are able to uphold high levels of consistency, endurance and perseverance when faced with challenges in life.
While shooting may be an individual sport, the intense and strenuous nature of our training only serves to highlight the importance of having a strong support system to help each other through tough times.
With only around 20 members each year, Raffles Shooting has become a tight-knit family, motivating and encouraging each other to strive towards success and improvement. The small size of the CCA has also allowed for stronger interpersonal bonds to be forged through weekly CCA dinners as well as CCA camps, ensuring that even outside of training, shooters can turn to one another for help and support. This precious camaraderie truly makes Raffles Shooting a second home to all its shooters—past, present and future.
With that said, the demanding requirements for shooting well, the tense atmosphere at the competition range, and the battle between one’s mind and instincts, are just some things that are better when experienced, rather than described. If you are up for the challenge, and want to make lifelong friends along the way, then shoot your shot for Shooting!
Training sessions:
- Tuesdays (4:30pm to 7:30pm)
- Wednesdays (8:00am to 11:00am)
- Fridays (4:00pm to 7:00pm)
