By Raju Vernekar
Mumbai, Oct 22:
A team of the Southern Command (SC) of Indian Army won the “ Army Ordnance Corps Ladysmith Shell firing competition” held at Central Ammunition Depot located at Pulgaon in Wardha district of Maharashtra on Thursday and Friday.
Total seven teams, one from each Command and one of Army Ordnance Corps (AOC) centre respectively participated in the contest for the coveted trophy. Central Ammunition Depot (CAD Pulgaon was part of the Southern Command team.
“CAD Pulgaon pers” won Gold and Silver in Rifle 5.56 INSAS category. “CAD pers” also won Silver and Bronze in 5.56 INSAS category. Besides, an officer from CAD won silver in the LMG firing. Overall best firer of the competition was also from CAD Pulgaon, an official statement read.
Lady Smith is a small town in Natal which is named after Joanna the wife of Sir Harry Smith, who was the Governor of the Cape in South Africa. During the Boer war in 1899, this town came under a prolonged siege. On Christmas Day, a shell was fired by the Boers on the garrison under siege and it fell in the Ordnance Field Park which did not explode. Inside the shell was found a small plum pudding wrapped up in a tiny Union Jack and the shell itself was painted with the words “Compliments of the Season”.
To commemorate the successful relief of Lady Smith, a trophy was introduced by the Royal Army Ordnance Corps to be awarded to the best Ordnance team in a small arms firing competition in which all Ordnance Corps units of the Common Wealth originally participated. Now it is awarded to the best small arms firing AOC team of the Indian Army.
The trophy comprises the shell mounted on a handsome teak pedestal in which the Union Jack is framed and with small shields on which the name of winners are etched. The trophy occupies a pride of place in the AOC museum at the College of Materials Management, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh).
IAF Lawn Tennis Championship
In another development, the Western Air Command, Indian Air Force (IAF) won the “Air Force Lawn Tennis Championship 2022-23” held at Headquarters, Maintenance Command (MC) at Vayusena Nagar in Nagpur on Friday.
The final match of team Championship was played between Western Air Command and Training Command in which the Western Air Command emerged winner. The final of the open singles was played between Corporal Pradeep of Training Command and Sergeant Manolin of Western Air Command. Corporal Pradeep emerged as the winner.
The Championship was held from October 17 to October 21. It was inaugurated by Air Marshal Vibhas Pande, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, HQ MC. A total of eight teams comprising 48 players from the seven Commands of the IAF participated. The Championship was held in two events-Team Championship and Open Singles.
Air Marshal Vibhas Pande, was the Chief Guest at the closing ceremony. He gave away the prizes to the winners. In his address he congratulated the winners and appreciated all the participants, official of the Air Force Sports Control Board (AFSCB) and the Commanding Officer of HQ MC (U) who was instrumental in organizing the event.
He expressed his happiness for the closely contested games played in the true spirit of sportsmanship and enthralled the closely packed audience. The matches not only showcased the talents and potential of the players but generated a lot of enthusiasm amongst the air warriors to pick up Lawn Tennis as a sport. He urged the players to strive for excellence and make the IAF proud by winning laurels at the Inter Services Competitions as well as at the national level.
