Elias Dagher will take aim against some of the best young shooters in the world this week.
The 17-year-old Greenvale resident is in Germany to compete at the International Junior Shotgun Grand Prix.
The championships, which have several different events, attracts the best shooters from around the world.
Dagher, who took up shooting two years ago, is keen to use his first international meet as a learning experience.
He’s spent a week training in Germany and will compete in the boys trap event starting on Tuesday.
“I’ve heard from some of the other competitors that it’s a really big event,” he said.
“All the juniors from across Europe compete in it. I’m going over for the experience.
“If I can do well, that’s a bonus.”
Dagher is a member of the Metropolitan Clay Target Club in Epping. He qualified for the grand prix following an outstanding performance at the ISSF Nationals in January where he shot 121 of 125 targets to win both the Commonwealth and national titles in his grade.
The wins ensured he was the second-placed junior in the competition and secured his selection for the grand prix.
The Maribyrnong College year 12 student has spent the summer training several times a week.
“Over the school holidays I was at the club two to three times a week and shot three rounds each time.”
Dagher has come a long way in only two years. He took up the sport two years ago, following in the footsteps of his father.
“My dad used to shoot a fair bit … I went out with him and I got hooked.
“A lot of people have different opinions about shooting …
“It’s not the most popular sport, but there are a lot of shooters out there,” he said.
Dagher has a gap year planned for next year and is looking forward to plenty of time shooting.
He has his eyes set on competing at the 2020 Olympics and 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“I think I’m a good chance of making both games. I’ll be able to have a good training period before those events.”
