S Kannan in New Delhi
Anish Bhanwala is just 21, yet, if you looked at his bio, it would seem that he has been around for ages. The 13th shooter to clinch a quota place for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the rapid-fire pistol shooter is an extremely calm individual. His persona is in sharp contrast to squeezing the trigger in a fast-paced pistol event which makes the fans’ hearts beat faster.
In an exclusive interview with RevSportz, Bhanwala opened up on what lies ahead for him. With the selection criteria changed for the next Olympics, there is no guarantee that the shooter who won the quota is an obvious choice. “I have no qualms about the change in the selection policy,” said Bhanwala. “Personally, I have to be ready for every challenge. If there are trials in April/May, I will focus on doing my best, and not think anything beyond.”
Taking a trip down memory lane, the ace pistol shooter recaptured a few moments from the past. “I think I had ten chances to win a quota place before this, even for the Tokyo Olympics,” recalled Bhanwala. “If I had got upset with all that, I would not be focussed on my sport. What happened in the Asian Championship before the Tokyo Olympics was an opportunity lost. I would also like to mention what happened in the ISSF World Cup in New Delhi in March 2021, when the quota place was scrapped. I had finished fifth in it.”
Born in Karnal and having taken up pistol shooting seriously in his teens, Bhanwala looks at life as a journey where there will be ups and down. When he won a team event gold medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, he was not satisfied with his individual score. “I must let all of you know, I owe a lot to my personal coach, Harpreet Singh,” he said. “From a young age, he has been a big influence on my shooting journey as he lives near my place in Karnal. Harpreet is a Commonwealth Games medallist from New Delhi 2010 and has been with me.
“When I returned from Hangzhou, I asked him to come and spend ten days with me at the Karni Singh ranges in New Delhi. I believe a lot has to do with technique in shooting and my event is even more specific. If your technique is right, it matters the most. So, I am really thankful to Harpreet. That helped me do well in the latest Asian Championship.”
Does he look at the Paris Olympics as a goal or life will go on even if he doesn’t make it? “Look, I have been shooting in junior events, seniors events, World Cups and the Asian Games,” said Bhanwala. “It is a process for me. If I do not make the cut for Paris, I will continue with shooting. I seek perfection and I want to have the best technique, that is what has helped in my average scores being high.”
Usually, an athlete would be upset if he or she mises the cut, but not Bhanwala. It tells you about his approach and mentality. How hard does he work on fitness and other aspects away from the range? “Yes, I do work on cardio training, not too much weights though, and also yoga,” he said. “Deep breathing is essential for a shooter. My routine is well planned and discipline is very important for me.
“To be shooting for India and do well consistently, I have had to work on the basics and stay fit. This sport is about rhythm, staying 100 per cent in the game. For me, making an effort is a constant process where my personal coach is always there for me, despite his busy schedule.”
These days, he spends long hours at the shooting ranges in New Delhi. For someone who began shooting in Karnal as a kid, his love for the sport is intense. And the most beautiful part is, it is the process that he is obsessed with and not the results.