The Indian sporting community mourns the loss of a foundational figure. Colonel JS Dhillon (retd), VSM, the first coach of India's individual Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, passed away on December 13. He was 91 years old. The retired army officer had been admitted to hospital on December 4.
A Legacy Etched in Targets and Memories
In the backyard of his home, a personal shooting range stood as a testament to his lifelong passion. Below it, a kitchen garden grew. On a softboard near the firing point, old target cards from visitors over the years were pinned. One card, from 2006 and bearing the name Col Ahluwalia, stood out. On it, Col Dhillon had penned a line for a friend: "Keep this card on wall next to bed." It was a simple instruction that reflected his philosophy—a daily reminder of focus and passion. This is how he lived.
Reacting to the news, Abhinav Bindra shared an emotional note that resonated with countless individuals whose lives Dhillon touched. "...Thank you for giving me the foundation that carried me through a lifetime," Bindra wrote, capturing the profound impact of his mentor.
The Self-Made Soldier and Shooting Pioneer
Col JS Dhillon had a distinguished career that wove together service and sport. He was commissioned into the Indian Army in 1953 and served in the Corps of EME (Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) until his retirement in 1989. His shooting prowess was evident early. He represented India at the Asian Games in 1970, 1978, and 1982. His international competitive journey included his first Commonwealth Shooting Championships in 1995.
Beyond his personal achievements, Dhillon was instrumental in building the structure for marksmanship in the Indian Army. He was among the key figures who set up the Army shooting team, which later evolved into the prestigious Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU).
"He was a self-made man," says his son, Colonel Gulpreet Singh Dhillon (retd). "The Army gave him the platform. During rifle training, his instructors saw his ability. That is how he got the chance to play for Services and then for India."
Bindra's Foundation: A Letter, a Wait, and a Lasting Calm
For Abhinav Bindra, the relationship with Colonel Dhillon began long before the glare of medals and podiums. "I came to know of Colonel Dhillon through a common family friend, Mr Rana Sodhi, who spoke very highly of him," Bindra recalls. "This was in the mid-90s, long before cell phones or email. I wrote to him, expressing my wish to train under him, and then I waited. You waited for a phone call on the landline or a reply by post."
The Olympic champion vividly remembers the anticipation of that era. "I remember the feeling every time the phone rang or the mail arrived. It was the hope of a young boy who wanted a chance."
When that chance finally came, the memory of the first visit to Dhillon's house became indelible. "I was nervous and excited," Bindra says. "I saw his medals in the living room. For someone starting out, it meant a lot. But more than the medals, it was his way of being. There was no display. There was calm. That stayed with me."
The training took place at the range behind the house, following a strict routine. Focus and discipline were not topics of frequent discussion; they were simply expected and ingrained through practice.
"His contribution to my life goes far beyond sport," Bindra emphasises. "He shaped me as a person. He taught me discipline, patience and composure. He showed me how to carry myself in success and in failure. Those lessons stayed with me in every part of life."
This ethos extended to his family. His son notes, "He never pushed me into anything. But once I chose shooting, he told me that consistency and discipline had to follow. He believed discipline was the base of everything."
Today, in the quiet backyard, the old targets remain. They are more than paper; they are chronicles of names, dates, and handwritten notes. One line on a card, meant to be seen every morning, now serves as a lasting reminder of how Colonel JS Dhillon lived and the formidable legacy he leaves behind in Indian sport.
