Age should never stand in the way of a dream, and a doctor from Begusarai in Bihar has proved exactly that. Dr Ajay Kumar, a physician by profession, has at the age of 49 reached a level in the world of shooting that many young marksmen chase for years. He clinched the gold medal in the 50m prone peep sight master event at the 36th Bihar State Shooting Championship-2026, bringing pride not just to Begusarai but to all of Bihar. What makes the story special is that his interest in the sport was sparked not by a coach or a friend, but by his own son, who is a national-level shooter. Today he is known not only as a successful doctor, but also as an outstanding marksman.
Beating Around 50 Competitors
The championship was held at the Saket Singh Shooting Academy in Akhtiyarpur Manjhauli, Vikram, near Patna. Competing in the 50m prone peep sight individual master event, Dr Ajay Kumar edged out around 50 participants to seize the gold medal. His son holds the distinction of being Begusarai's first junior national shooter. While accompanying his son to various competitions, Ajay Kumar noticed that several people his own age were also putting up impressive performances in shooting. That was the moment a desire to try the sport himself took root, and he picked up the rifle.
Two Hours of Practice and Half an Hour of Yoga Every Morning
Being a doctor keeps his daily routine extremely busy, yet he still found a way to carve out time for shooting. Every morning he practised for about two hours at the Begusarai shooting range. On top of that, half an hour of yoga became part of his daily routine, which helped him maintain concentration and physical balance. After roughly a month of relentless effort, he turned his dream into reality by winning gold at the state-level competition.
Crediting His Coach
Dr Ajay Kumar gives full credit for his success to his coach, Mohammad Imam Azam. Mohammad Imam Azam works at the Bank of India in Begusarai and has been training shooters for a long time. According to Ajay Kumar, his coach guided him through every fine technical detail and kept his morale high at every step. It was this support that allowed him to achieve the feat.
Eyes Now on the National Stage
After winning gold, Dr Ajay Kumar's next goal is to perform well in national-level competitions so that he can make Bihar shine across the country. Notably, around 300 players from various districts of Bihar took part in this championship. Winning amid such stiff competition has established him as the pride of the district and a source of inspiration for many.
