A RevSportz Exclusive
Palak Gulia, the ace shooter, has experienced a dip in form at the international level after sealing the Gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games in the women’s 10m air pistol event. Although she secured a Paris-Olympics quota at the ISSF Olympic Qualification Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, she narrowly missed out on a place in the final squad bound for Paris. Now 19, the Haryana-based shooter is set to return to major international action as a part of the Indian team for the upcoming ISSF World Cup in Munich, scheduled from June 7 to 15, 2025.
In a candid conversation with RevSportz, Palak opened up about her preparations for the Munich World Cup, the emotional journey in relation to missing out on a berth for the Olympics, her experience at the National Games, and the road back to representing India on the world stage.
Rohan Chowdhury: What are your thoughts on the upcoming Munich World Cup?
Palak Gulia: I’m really looking forward to competing in Munich. It’s always a high-level field, and the atmosphere is intense, which is what I enjoy. It’s going to be a great opportunity to test where I currently stand and to implement everything I’ve been working on in training.
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Rohan: How has the process been? From a successful Asian Games campaign to winning the Paris Olympics quota, only to miss out on securing a berth in the final team…
Palak: It’s been a phase of growth, both as an athlete and as an individual. Each milestone, from the Asian Games to securing the Olympic quota, has always reaffirmed the work I’ve been putting in. Not making it to the final team was, of course, disappointing, but I see it as a part of the journey. It sharpened my focus and made me more resilient and more driven to keep improving.
Rohan: How important was the National Games, 2025?
Palak: The National Games in Uttarakhand was a key part of my season, an important checkpoint to assess my form. It’s a highly valuable tournament that brings strong competition within the circuit. It plays a vital role in helping me improve personally and stay in a high-performance mindset for all the other tournaments throughout the year.
She won a silver medal in the 10m Air Pistol event for Haryana behind her compatriot Suruchi Singh Inder.
Rohan: How would you describe the Indian team’s performance in Argentina and Peru, and how would it impact your mindset for Munich?
Palak: The team performed exceptionally well in South America. They were consistent, composed, and confident—and watching that kind of performance builds a positive mindset.
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Rohan: A lot of youngsters are making their mark in the Indian shooting circuit—Suruchi, Arya, Simranpreet have done wonders in South America. Thoughts?
Palak: It shows that, as a unit, we’re moving in the right direction, and obviously, it inspires me a lot as well. It’s great to see so many of my peers performing well. We’ve all come through similar stages around the same time, so watching their success is very motivating. It creates a healthy competitive environment where we can push each other to keep improving and raising our standards time and again.
Rohan: What are the key areas that you are focusing on for the Munich World Cup?
Palak: I’m focusing heavily on short-process consistency, and I’ve also been working on refining my finals routine and building more clarity in decision-making during critical moments.
Rohan: Thoughts on the national trials and how competitive they are?
Palak: The national trials are incredibly intense. The level of competition nowadays is as high as international events—no less, no more. It pushes you to be at your best all the time, and there’s no room for off days. That’s what keeps me very sharp.
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Rohan: What is the average score that you are achieving in practice sessions?
Palak: Rather than focusing on the number, I’m placing more emphasis on the quality of each shot and the consistency of my process throughout the number of shots I’m firing. The scores are naturally following as a result of that approach. Yes, we’ve been doing well, and we’re confident with the direction things are heading in as we approach Munich.
Rohan: What are the areas that you’re working on when it comes to the mental side of things?
Palak: I’ve been working closely with my psychologist, and we focus on different techniques that help me stay in the present moment during my matches or training. We also make sure I have a good balance outside the range to stay grounded.