Excelling at the Defence Operational Shooting Competition 2026
By Lance Corporal Bikram Rai, The First Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles
The First Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles (1 RGR) shooting team once again secured the Unit Championship at the Defence Operational Shooting Competition 2026, achieving an extraordinary sixth consecutive victory and reaffirming their reputation for operational shooting excellence.
The campaign began in January 2026 with a rigorous week‑long selection phase that introduced ten new firers to the squad. Following a deployment to Kenya, the team returned to undertake intensive range training, during which senior shooters mentored newcomers, building confidence, cohesion, and consistently high standards across the team.
Throughout the competition, the team delivered an exceptional and unified performance, with all eight members placing in the top 28 overall. Their success was driven by strong leadership from Captain Sojit Gauchan, who fostered a supportive and focused environment, and Warrant Officer Class Two Dhan Prasad Ghale, whose professionalism set the benchmark for the team’s conduct and discipline.
Further distinction was achieved with the award of The King’s Medallist to Lance Corporal Milan Buduja, recognising his outstanding individual performance.
Individual rankings:
- 1st place – Lance Corporal Milan Buduja
- 2nd place – Warrant Officer Class 2 Dhan Prasad Ghale
- 3rd place – Lance Corporal Bikram Rai
- 4th place – Lance Corporal Sonu Gurung
- 5th place – Lance Corporal Prince Pun
- 7th place – Rifleman Niroj Tamang
- 20th place – Rifleman Khil Bahadur Magar
- 28th place – Captain Sojit Gauchan
