INDIA. Mumbai: A team from the Southern Command (SC) of the Indian Army won the “Army Ordnance Corps Ladysmith Shell firing competition” held at the Central Ammunition Depot located at Pulgaon in the Wardha district of Maharashtra on Thursday and Friday.
A total of seven teams, one from each command and one from each Army Ordnance Corps (AOC) centre, respectively, participated in the contest for the coveted trophy.
The Central Ammunition Depot (CAD) Pulgaon was part of the Southern Command team.
“CAD Pulgaon pers” won Gold and Silver in the Rifle 5.56 INSAS category. “CAD pers” also won Silver and Bronze in the 5.56 INSAS category.
Besides, an Army officer from CAD won silver in the LMG firing. An official statement read, “The overall best firer of the competition was also from CAD Pulgaon.”
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 on which the Union Jack is framed and with small shields on which the names of the winners are etched.
The trophy occupies 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 of the 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 the team championship was played between Western Air Command and Training Command, in which Western Air Command emerged the 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, including officials of the Air Force Sports Control Board (AFSCB) and the Commanding Officer of HQ MC (U) who were instrumental in organising the event.
He expressed his happiness at the closely contested games played in the true spirit of sportsmanship and enthralled the closely packed audience.
The matches not only showcased the players’ talents and potential, but also sparked a lot of interest in lawn tennis among the air warriors.
He urged the players to strive for excellence and make the IAF proud by winning laurels at the Inter Service Competitions as well as at the national level.
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