Bengal’s Mehuli Ghosh has been named among the nominees for the Arjuna Award 2026. In an exclusive conversation with RevSportz, the 10m air rifle shooter expressed her gratitude for the recognition, calling it a step closer to a long-cherished dream. Mehuli also spoke about her preparations for the upcoming season, lessons from recent setbacks, her renewed focus on the road to the LA 2028 Olympics and much more.
Rohan Chowdhury: Mehuli, welcome to RevSportz. How has life been, and how do you look back at the 2025 season and the Arjuna Award nomination?
Mehuli Ghosh: Thank you. I’m really happy about the Arjuna Award nomination, and I truly hope it comes through. I’ve been working very hard—on myself and on my sport—and this recognition is very motivating.
Looking back at 2025, it has been a great year. There were many learnings, many challenges, and a lot of changes in my life. Everything feels like it’s paying off now, and to end the year with such wonderful news makes it very special.
Rohan: When we look at 2025 overall, the Indian shooting contingent has performed exceptionally well—World Cups across South America and Germany, Asian Championships, and the Cairo World Championship. What are your thoughts on Indian shooting right now?
Mehuli: Indian shooting is improving every single day. Scores are rising, records are being broken, and new benchmarks are being set. Right now, I’m in Bhopal for the National Championships, and even here, the performances are unbelievable.
Aishwary (Pratap Tomar) set a new National record that’s actually higher than the world record. Today, juniors and seniors are competing at the same level. It’s challenging, but it’s exciting. Everyone is pushing each other, learning something new every day—and I’m sure the scores will only get crazier in the future.
Rohan: You mentioned the Nationals. Many shooters say the National Championships are tougher than international competitions. Do you agree?
Mehuli: Absolutely. When I started shooting, Nationals were competitive but very different from today. After the Rio Olympics, things changed drastically. Scores kept increasing, new shooters kept coming in, and the level just exploded.
Now, Nationals feel like an international event. Anyone can shoot 634. Anyone can win. Recently, Himanshu—a junior shooter—shot 634.5 and set a new National record. I was genuinely so happy for him.
Nationals have become extremely intense. The sport has grown so much in India, and that’s why it’s one of the toughest competitions we face every year.
Rohan: You spoke highly of the system. How do you assess the role of the federation in this positive shift?
Mehuli: The federation has done a very good job. I especially want to mention Kalikesh (Singh Deo) Sir, who has played a huge role in strengthening the system. The way athletes are supported, the fairness in selection, and the overall structure—everything has improved significantly. The federation is really trying to back every athlete, and that matters a lot.
Rohan: That brings me to the upcoming Shooting League of India (SLI). Franchise leagues have transformed Indian sports ecosystems. How excited are you?
Mehuli: We’ve been waiting for a shooting league for a very long time, so everyone is extremely excited. There were delays because organising something of this scale takes time—and that’s completely fine.
We’ve had meetings to discuss formats and structure, though nothing is final yet. But the excitement is real. It’s going to be big, and it will definitely help shooting grow—not just competitively, but also in terms of visibility and opportunities.
Rohan: Looking ahead to 2026, the Asian Games are approaching, and shooting has always been a major medal contributor for India. How are you planning for the season?
Mehuli: The Asian Games are extremely important for us. Along with that, the Olympic quota competitions will also begin next year. So the focus is on being fully prepared—physically and mentally—for every major event.
I’m very positive about the coming year. The Arjuna nomination has already given me a big boost, and I’m motivated to do everything required to perform at my best.
Rohan: You’re from Bengal, and young shooters like Sandrata Roy, who recently won the Jr. mixed team gold at the Nationals, now see you as a role model. How do you view the growth of shooting in Bengal?
Mehuli: There has definitely been growth, though it’s been a bit slower compared to some other states. Shooting wasn’t very popular in West Bengal earlier, but that’s changing now.
It takes time for athletes to train, mature, and perform consistently at bigger stages. I’m hopeful. With a little more push and support, Bengal shooters will do very well in the future.
Rohan: Coming back to the Arjuna Award—how significant is this recognition for an athlete?
Mehuli: For me, it means a lot. Especially being here at the Nationals, it feels like a huge push. It’s recognition from the government for all the hard work and sacrifices.
When I started shooting, I dreamed of standing on that stage someday. Now that dream feels real. It makes me proud—and more importantly, it makes my parents proud. That feeling is priceless.
Rohan: The Olympics remain every athlete’s ultimate goal. Paris was close, you won the quota, but things didn’t work out. How do you visualise the road to LA 2028?
Mehuli: Paris was heartbreaking, no doubt. It took time to recover from that. But now, I’ve put it behind me.
If I was that close to Paris, I believe I can go even closer—and finally make it—to LA 2028. That’s what I’m working towards now.
Rohan: Finally, how do you plan to end 2025 and welcome 2026?
Mehuli: Honestly, there’s no celebration. I have matches here, including one on January 1st. So I’m ending my year with shooting and starting the new year with shooting. That’s my schedule for the last few days of 2025. I’ll be celebrating with my rifle on the range.
Rohan: And, hopefully, with a medal. Thank you so much, Mehuli. Wishing you the very best for 2026 and beyond.
Mehuli: Thank you so much.
WATCH: Mehuli Ghosh Exclusive: Arjuna Award Nomination, Asian Games 2026, Road to LA 2028, SLI 2026 & More
For more such exclusive stories, follow RevSportz
