In line with its commitment towards strengthening India’s sports ecosystem, Axis Bank, one of the largest private sector banks in India, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Lakshya Shooting Club (LSC) to establish a state-of-the-art ‘Axis Bank Lakshya Shooting Club High Performance Centre’ (HPC) at Navi Mumbai.
Vijay Mulbagal, Group Executive & Head – Wholesale Bank Coverage & Sustainability, Axis Bank, and Suma Shirur, Chairman of Lakshya Shooting Club signed the MoU in the presence of other senior bank officials, in Mumbai.
This exclusive Shooting Centre will provide world-class infrastructure, comprehensive athletic development programs, and community engagement activities for nurturing emerging shooters.
It will also groom Olympic-level elite shooters, and endeavor to create an open and inclusive platform for scouting potential talent. This collaboration aims to put India on the global map for excellence in Shooting sports.
Lakshya Shooting Club is a well-renowned nurturing ground for young shooters across the country and is founded by Olympian and Arjuna & Dronacharya Awardee Suma Shirur.
Suma has coached the Indian National Shooting Team to a historic medal haul at the Paris Olympics 2024.
Under this MoU, Axis Bank will extend financial and developmental support to Lakshya Shooting Club to establish a holistic center which will include:
- Two advanced shooting ranges for Air Rifle, Air Pistol, and Simulated 50m Rifle
- An integrated Sport Science Centre with performance analysis, injury prevention, and recovery support
- A Sports Psychology unit to support the emotional and mental well-being of the athletes
- Residential accommodation for athletes and coaches, and additional training facilities
The Centre is expected to host over 400 athletes annually, including both resident and non-resident participants. It is designed to be fully accessible and para-friendly, supporting para-athletes, including those who have already represented India at the Paralympics and Deaflympics.
Speaking on the occasion, Vijay Mulbagal, Group Executive & Head – Wholesale Bank Coverage & Sustainability, Axis Bank said, “We are proud to reaffirm our commitment to Indian sports as we partner with the Lakshya Shooting Club to establish world-class shooting infrastructure in India. We believe that the Centre will play a leading role in enabling our top shooters to succeed at the Olympic level, and also help identifying and nurturing the next generation of shooting talent in India.’’
Speaking on the occasion, Suma Shirur, Olympian & High-Performance Director, Lakshya Shooting Club said, ‘’This partnership with Axis Bank means a lot. It brings us closer to our dream — a centre where talent receives the right support, and every young shooter feels they have a real chance to succeed.”