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Five Indian Shooters Take Five Different Roads to Asian Games
Five Indian shooters are heading toward the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.
Each person found the sport in a different way.
Aashima Ahlawat’s mother made major sacrifices so she could train.
Niraj Kumar used money meant for college to buy a rifle.
Manisha Keer learned about shooting from her sister and kept training despite limited money.
Kedarling Balakrishna Uchaganve discovered the sport after joining the Army.
Ahvar Rizvi had to change events after his original discipline was dropped from the Olympic programme.
He also trained with a gun borrowed from another shooter.
Their final shots will be quick, but reaching the Games took many years of effort and sacrifice.
Aashima Ahlawat pursued shooting after watching Indian champions, while her mother helped relocate the family business so she could train.
Niraj Kumar chose a rifle over college savings and initially trained with borrowed and rented equipment.
Manisha Keer discovered shooting through her sister and overcame financial constraints and a lack of regular coaching.
Kedarling Balakrishna Uchaganve found shooting after joining the Indian Army, which provided his pistol and coaching.
Ahvar Rizvi overcame a discipline change, an eight-year wait and a borrowed trap gun to make India’s 2026 Asian Games team.
- Who
- Indian shooters Aashima Ahlawat, Niraj Kumar, Manisha Keer, Kedarling Balakrishna Uchaganve and Ahvar Rizvi.
- What
- They are preparing to represent India at the 2026 Asian Games after following very different paths into shooting.
- Where
- The Games will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, while the athletes trained and competed in places including India, Lima and Kazakhstan.
- When
- The Asian Games will take place in 2026; the athletes’ journeys began at different times, including 2018 for several of them.
- Why
- They pursued shooting careers and overcame financial, equipment, coaching and discipline-related obstacles to reach the Indian team.
Key facts
- Event
- 2026 Asian Games
- Host location
- Aichi-Nagoya, Japan
- Athletes featured
- Aashima Ahlawat, Niraj Kumar, Manisha Keer, Kedarling Balakrishna Uchaganve and Ahvar Rizvi
- Ahlawat’s achievement
- Bronze medal and personal best at the World University Championships in Delhi
- Keer’s achievements
- 2018 ISSF Junior World Championship silver and 2023 Asian Games women’s trap team silver
- Rizvi’s obstacle
- He switched from double trap to trap after double trap was dropped from the Olympic programme
- Uchaganve’s support
- The Indian Army provided his first pistol, coaches and support staff
Quotes
Aashima Ahlawat
Indian shooter describing her mother’s support for her training
“Buy me the rifle. I will get the college degree later. First, I have to shoot.”
telegraphindia.com
“She didn’t just give me permission; she gave up a lot for it.”
telegraphindia.com
