Siddharth Shirur : Spearheading Architectural Innovation & Sporting Advocacy
Siddharth Shirur
Co-Founder & Secretary
Simultaneously, his profound dedication to sports, ignited by his Olympian wife Suma Shirur’s illustrious career as an Arjuna and Dronacharya Awardee, led him to co-establish the Lakshya Shooting Club in 2006. Under his guidance, the academy has flourished into a beacon of excellence, producing champions such as Avni Lekhara, the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic gold medalist in shooting.
Embarking on a distinctive exchange with CEO Insights magazine, Siddharth divulges the intricate facets of his transformative journey as a prominent leader in the country. Let's explore further.
How did your time at the Indian Institute of Management Rohtak contribute to your personal and professional growth, both academically and beyond?
As a part-time teacher at an architectural college, I recognized the gap in manage-ment education within the architectural field and sought to bridge it. Simultaneously, my involvement in a shooting club highlighted my shortcomings in sports management. This realization led me to pursue the Executive Sports Management program at IIM Rohtak eagerly. Throughout the course, I gained invaluable insights into athlete management, commercial aspects of sports, and sports science, which I integrated into the academy’s operations. The program equipped me with a comprehensive understanding of sports mana- gement, enhancing my capabilities beyond coaching to encompass athlete welfare, organizational structure, and strategic planning.
What drove you to establish Lakshya Shooting Club, and how is
it positioned in the industry?
The journey of establishing Lakshya Shooting Club was deeply rooted in my wife, Suma’s passion for the sport and her desire to give back to the community. Witnessing her dedication to traveling long distances for training inspired us to create a platform where aspiring shooters could access facilities and guidance locally.
What began as a humble endeavor in our backyard has now burgeoned into a network of seven centers across Maharashtra and Karnataka, including prestigious locations such as Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Bangalore, and Coorg. Over the past 18 years, we have nurtured talent that has excelled at various levels, from winning Youth Olympic silver medals to clinching Paralympic golds. Today, Lakshya Shooting Club is among the top shooting academies in the country, distinguished by the caliber of coaching and support we offer.
Could you tell me about your leadership approach? What are the guidelines or methodologies you follow to lead your team?
Recognizing the pivotal role coaches play in shaping athletes' development, I prioritize empowering our coaching team. Drawing from Suma’s experiences as both an athlete and now an acclaimed coach, I understand the nuanced dynamics of mentorship in sports. Rather than micromanaging, I believe in providing our coaches with autonomy and support to lead programs effectively.
Additionally, I emphasize the importance of nurturing a supportive ecosystem, ensuring that our team of experts, including psychologists and physiotherapists, work seamlessly to bolster our coaches and athletes.
Can you provide examples of the innovative approaches that you have introduced to the sport through the club, whether scientifically or otherwise?
At Lakshya Shooting Club, we have embraced innovation and scientific advancements to enhance our athletes' performance and elevate the sport of shooting. One notable innovation was our early adoption of electronic scoring targets (EST) in 2016, making us pioneers among private clubs in India. These computerized targets revolutionized our training regimen by providing real-time accuracy and precision
The journey of establishing Lakshya Shooting Club was deeply rooted in my wife, Suma’s passion for the sport and her desire to give back to the community. Witnessing her dedication to traveling long distances for training inspired us to create a platform where aspiring shooters could access facilities and guidance locally.
By empowering our team & their growth, we create a conducive environment for athletes to thrive independently & fear- lessly
What began as a humble endeavor in our backyard has now burgeoned into a network of seven centers across Maharashtra and Karnataka, including prestigious locations such as Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Bangalore, and Coorg. Over the past 18 years, we have nurtured talent that has excelled at various levels, from winning Youth Olympic silver medals to clinching Paralympic golds. Today, Lakshya Shooting Club is among the top shooting academies in the country, distinguished by the caliber of coaching and support we offer.
Could you tell me about your leadership approach? What are the guidelines or methodologies you follow to lead your team?
Recognizing the pivotal role coaches play in shaping athletes' development, I prioritize empowering our coaching team. Drawing from Suma’s experiences as both an athlete and now an acclaimed coach, I understand the nuanced dynamics of mentorship in sports. Rather than micromanaging, I believe in providing our coaches with autonomy and support to lead programs effectively.
Additionally, I emphasize the importance of nurturing a supportive ecosystem, ensuring that our team of experts, including psychologists and physiotherapists, work seamlessly to bolster our coaches and athletes.
Can you provide examples of the innovative approaches that you have introduced to the sport through the club, whether scientifically or otherwise?
At Lakshya Shooting Club, we have embraced innovation and scientific advancements to enhance our athletes' performance and elevate the sport of shooting. One notable innovation was our early adoption of electronic scoring targets (EST) in 2016, making us pioneers among private clubs in India. These computerized targets revolutionized our training regimen by providing real-time accuracy and precision
feedback, giving our shooters a competi-tive edge.
Recognizing the holistic needs of athletes, we delved into sports science, starting with advanced physiotherapy techniques for rehabilitation and recovery. Additionally, we enlisted the expertise of a sleep coach, a concept relatively new in India, to optimize our athletes' rest and recuperation.
Continuing our commitment to innovation, we recently incorporated biofeedback technology under the guidance of a psychologist. This cutting-edge approach provides precise feedback on athletes' psychological states, enabling tailored interventions to enhance mental resilience and performance consis-tency.
Moreover, we are exploring avenues such as video analytics and biomechanics to further refine training methodologies and unlock new levels of performance potential.
What are your plans and aspirations for your journey, considering your current role and experiences?
My future vision for Lakshya Shooting Club revolves around the establishment of a cutting-edge High Performance Center in Navi Mumbai. The Center represents our dedication to elevating Indian shooting onto the global stage and shaping the next generation of sporting excellence by offering state-of-the-art amenities and resources to our athletes. With a focus on holistic development, the center will encompass specialized training areas, sports science labs, and accommodation facilities. By creating a world-class training environment, we aspire to not only produce elite shooters but also nurture future Olympic champions.
Siddharth Shirur, Co-Founder & Secretary, Lakshya Shooting Club
Siddharth Shirur is the Co-Founder and Secretary of Lakshya Shooting Club, a Khelo India Accredited Academy for Shooting Sport, where he has dedicated over 17 years to nurturing talent and promoting excellence in the field. Concurrently, he serves as a Visiting Professor at the Indian Education Society's College of Architecture, imparting knowledge and expertise in architecture. With a background in Architecture and a recent ePGDSM in Sports Management from IIM Rohtak, Siddharth embodies a passion for both sports and education.
•Favorite Hobbies: Trekking, Travelling, Reading
•Favorite Cuisine: Fish
•Favorite Book: 1984 by George Orwell
•Favorite Travel Desti- nation: Anywhere close to the Himalayas
•Awards & Recognition:Won the design competition for the National Tax Headquarters in 2011
Recognizing the holistic needs of athletes, we delved into sports science, starting with advanced physiotherapy techniques for rehabilitation and recovery. Additionally, we enlisted the expertise of a sleep coach, a concept relatively new in India, to optimize our athletes' rest and recuperation.
Continuing our commitment to innovation, we recently incorporated biofeedback technology under the guidance of a psychologist. This cutting-edge approach provides precise feedback on athletes' psychological states, enabling tailored interventions to enhance mental resilience and performance consis-tency.
Moreover, we are exploring avenues such as video analytics and biomechanics to further refine training methodologies and unlock new levels of performance potential.
What are your plans and aspirations for your journey, considering your current role and experiences?
My future vision for Lakshya Shooting Club revolves around the establishment of a cutting-edge High Performance Center in Navi Mumbai. The Center represents our dedication to elevating Indian shooting onto the global stage and shaping the next generation of sporting excellence by offering state-of-the-art amenities and resources to our athletes. With a focus on holistic development, the center will encompass specialized training areas, sports science labs, and accommodation facilities. By creating a world-class training environment, we aspire to not only produce elite shooters but also nurture future Olympic champions.
Siddharth Shirur, Co-Founder & Secretary, Lakshya Shooting Club
Siddharth Shirur is the Co-Founder and Secretary of Lakshya Shooting Club, a Khelo India Accredited Academy for Shooting Sport, where he has dedicated over 17 years to nurturing talent and promoting excellence in the field. Concurrently, he serves as a Visiting Professor at the Indian Education Society's College of Architecture, imparting knowledge and expertise in architecture. With a background in Architecture and a recent ePGDSM in Sports Management from IIM Rohtak, Siddharth embodies a passion for both sports and education.
•Favorite Hobbies: Trekking, Travelling, Reading
•Favorite Cuisine: Fish
•Favorite Book: 1984 by George Orwell
•Favorite Travel Desti- nation: Anywhere close to the Himalayas
•Awards & Recognition:Won the design competition for the National Tax Headquarters in 2011