Shillong, July 9: The Meghalaya Sports Department has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) and the Shooting Association of Meghalaya to promote and develop shooting sports in the state.

The MoU was formalised in the presence of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and NRAI President Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo. The agreement focuses on developing shooting infrastructure, implementing structured training programmes, and identifying young talent across Meghalaya.

As part of the MoU, the NRAI will organise one Open India Championship in the state every year, expected to attract over 4,000 athletes and contribute to the local economy.

Officials stated that the partnership will include infrastructure development, technical training, access to equipment, and hosting of competitions. The initiative is expected to serve as a model for similar efforts in other states.

The signing event was attended by Sports Commissioner Vijay Kumar D, Assistant Director of Sports PB War Nongbri, and other senior officials.