International shooter Anish fires from home, aims for Olympic gold

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, July 3

Making the most of the Covid-induced lockdown, international shooter Anish Bhanwala has been practising for three hours daily at a makeshift mini-shooting range in his home here.

His aim is to win a gold medal in the next year’s Tokyo Olympics.

The Olympics were to be held this July and August, but for the Covid pandemic, the games have been postponed by a year.

“I have developed a shooting range at my home. I practise for three hours shooting at my 10 m range daily. Though I compete in the 25 meter rapid fire pistol event, daily practise keeps me focused,” said Bhanwala.

‘I PractiSe for 3 hours daily’

I have developed a shooting range at my home. I practise for three hours shooting at my 10 m range daily. Though I compete in the 25 meter rapid fire pistol event, daily practise keeps me focused. —Anish Bhanwala, International shooter

Besides shooting, he devotes two hours to fitness. “I do yoga, meditation, and cycling to keep myself fit. Yoga helps me improve my concentration,” he said.

Bhanwala had won a gold medal in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the 25 m rapid fire pistol event and became the youngest ever gold medallist of India at the CWG. “I am fired up to do my best in the Olympics,” he added.

His sister, Muskan, is also a shooter and his mentor. Both siblings had won gold medals in Junior World Cup. They have won more than 70 gold medals at international and national events.

Their family has always been supportive. Bhanwala’s father Jagpal Singh said, “We have become habitual of the noise when he practises.”