In preparation for the upcoming 2025 Golden Mountain Bay Area Chinese Sports Event shooting competition, the Chinese Sports Association’s shooting competition organizing committee held a safety training session on the morning of June 15th (last Sunday) at the South Bay Overseas Chinese Education Center. The session was led by Hu Zhijing, a veteran shooting enthusiast in his nineties. Several registered competitors attended the session to listen, exchange competition experiences, and deepen their understanding of the competition rules and firearm safety knowledge.
Hu Zhijing has been involved in shooting since high school, representing Tainan No. 2 High School in youth competitions and winning the rifle championship twice. After coming to the United States, he dedicated nearly thirty years to promoting community shooting activities. He mentioned that the Chinese Sports Association shooting competition attracts about thirty participants annually, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Consulate officials also frequently participate, making it a popular and important event within the overseas Chinese community.
During the seminar, Hu Zhijing emphasized the importance of acquiring, storing, and using firearms safely, particularly reminding individuals with children at home to lock firearms, store ammunition separately, and prevent accidents.
Moreover, various firearms were showcased on-site to help beginners understand different types and make suitable choices for themselves.
Regarding competition regulations, he explained that the shooting range has strict rules, including speed limits upon entry, mandatory wearing of ear and eye protection, passing a safety test before entering the shooting area, among others. Participants must fully comply with range commands regarding loading, shooting, and ceasing fire within specified time frames; otherwise, they may be asked to leave the premises. The seminar reiterated that safety always comes first, and compliance with rules is the fundamental principle of shooting competitions.
Zhuang Yashu, the director of the Overseas Chinese Education Center, also attended the seminar and expressed her gratitude towards Hu Zhijing’s long-standing efforts in promoting shooting knowledge and safety regulations among friends in the overseas Chinese community. She mentioned her anticipation of participating in the competition herself and wished everyone a successful and safe experience during the event.
Chairman of the Chinese Sports Association, Chen Ligong, thanked Hu Zhijing for his selfless dedication over the years, pointing out that shooting, unlike other sports, requires specific venues and professional guidance. Therefore, this training session holds significant importance, not only enhancing participants’ safety awareness but also encouraging everyone to cultivate shooting as a hobby or self-defense skill. He also invited everyone to actively participate in the official competition on June 22nd.