Anish Bhanwala Embraces Growth Amidst Asian Shooting Championships Bronze
Indian shooter Anish Bhanwala, a prominent figure in the 25m rapid fire pistol event, recently secured a bronze medal at the Asian Shooting Championships held at the Karni Singh range in Delhi. This achievement adds to his collection, which includes a silver from the ISSF World Championships in Cairo a few months prior, marking a significant milestone after a twelve-year wait for the 23-year-old from Karnal.
Maturity and Perspective in Shooting
Bhanwala, who first showcased his potential by winning gold at the Junior World Championships in Suhl in 2017, now approaches competitions with a refined mindset. He emphasizes that maturity evolves over time, influencing how athletes perceive the sport, handle competitions, and value medals. "I think maturity comes with time. How we think about the sport, how we approach a competition or the value of medals," Bhanwala states. He reflects on past events like the 2018 Asian Games and World Championship, where he felt immense pressure, but now views them as standard competitions with familiar elements like firing points and equipment.
Despite his recent success, Bhanwala expresses mixed feelings about his performance. "I have respect for the medal, but not so happy with myself," he admits, highlighting his focus on personal standards rather than external accolades. Like fellow shooter Manu Bhaker, he prioritizes saving his best for major events, even when qualification scores, such as his 574 at the Asian Championships, fall below his usual benchmarks.
Ongoing Grip Challenges and Equipment Struggles
A key issue for Bhanwala has been his pistol grip, a problem that has persisted for years and affected his performance at nationals, domestic trials, and the Asian Championships. Currently using a copy of his original grip, he explains the complexities involved. "I recently made a copy of my grip which I am using right now. Earlier I was using a hand-made mold. It is from the best grip makers in the world. But there is always a little bit of difference," he says. His original mold is en route from Germany, but the handmade nature of these wooden grips means perfection is never guaranteed.
Bhanwala becomes philosophical when discussing the challenges of using an imperfect grip. "It is a crazy situation. But we have to manage with it. If you go and ask pistol shooters honestly 'Are you happy with the grip?' Many of them will have question marks," he adds, noting that shooters often tweak their equipment continuously.
Performance Analysis and Future Goals
During the final at the Asian Championships, Bhanwala started strongly, hitting three of his first five shots and achieving a perfect series, but faced difficulties in the latter half. However, he remains motivated to improve. "Right now I have maximum clarity – where I'm missing, what I can improve. Usually after winning, I'm happy and I forget about the match. But I think I will not even take a break and go back to the training sessions," he asserts.
Looking ahead, Bhanwala faces a packed schedule including the Asian Games and World Championships, with high expectations on his shoulders. He emphasizes the importance of smart preparation over mere hard work. "First I have to prepare myself to reach my peak. It isn't rocket science or hard work… just smart work," he concludes, underscoring his commitment to refining his skills and mental approach in the competitive shooting arena.
