Anish Bhanwala Secures Bronze at Asian Shooting Championship Amid Mixed Emotions
Indian shooter Anish Bhanwala experienced a rollercoaster of emotions on Wednesday at the Asian Rifle and Pistol Shooting Championship in New Delhi. While he managed to clinch a bronze medal in the highly competitive 25m rapid fire pistol event, his joy was tempered by frustration over what he described as subpar scores in both the qualification rounds and the final.
A Narrow Path to the Podium
Bhanwala's journey to the podium was fraught with challenges. He narrowly secured a spot in the final after finishing seventh in the two-stage classification round, a performance that left him dissatisfied. In the final, the 23-year-old from Karnal initially remained in contention for the gold medal, but a couple of poor shots towards the end abruptly dashed his hopes of a higher finish.
The final standings saw Japan's Dai Yashioka claim the gold with a total of 31 hits, while Kazakhstan's Nikita Chiryukin took the silver with 28. Bhanwala finished with 23 hits, exiting the competition five shots earlier. Another Indian shooter, Adarsh Singh, ended in sixth place in the eight-shooter final.
In the team event, Kazakhstan secured the gold medal, with India earning silver and Vietnam taking bronze, highlighting the competitive nature of the championship.
Bhanwala's Candid Reflections
After the contest, Bhanwala did not mince words about his performance. "I underperformed quite a bit in the qualification, but because the competition was relatively less, I managed to make it into the final. In the final too, I struggled initially, but I did manage to shoot some good series. There were a couple of bad shots in the end too," he admitted. "I have respect for the medal but I am disappointed with the score."
At one point during the final, Bhanwala was tied for the top position alongside Yashioka and Chiryukin after the sixth of eight series. However, he missed three shots in the five-shot seventh series, leading to his elimination, while Yashioka shot five and Chiryukin four.
Learning from Mistakes and Looking Ahead
Despite not achieving gold, Bhanwala emphasized the value of the experience in identifying and learning from his mistakes. "I did a very short analysis, but it's important. Right now, I have maximum clarity about where I'm missing and what I can improve. Usually after winning, we get very happy and forget to analyse. But I won't even take a break. After competitions, clarity is at its peak. So I will go straight back to training," he stated, showcasing his dedication and maturity.
He also noted that while the level of competition at this event was not exceptionally high, it serves as crucial preparation for a busy season ahead. Bhanwala reflected on his growth as a shooter, recalling how major tournaments like the World Championships and Asian Games once felt like "mountains" to him. "Maturity comes with time, how you think about the sport, approach competitions and value medals. Around 2018 when I started, the Asian Games and World Championships felt like mountains. I used to put a lot of pressure on myself. With age and maturity, I now know it's just another competition," he explained.
Focus on Future Competitions
With the Asian Games and World Championship scheduled for later this year, Bhanwala expressed confidence in his ability to peak at the right time. "First, I have to reach the peak towards the end of the season after winning medals in one or two competitions. Right now, the task is just to get to that level," he revealed, outlining his strategic approach to upcoming challenges.
Additionally, Bhanwala highlighted his efforts to adapt to recent changes in the final format of his event. "Earlier, we had six shooters on three bases. Now there are eight on two bases," he noted, indicating his commitment to mastering new conditions in the sport.
This bronze medal adds to Bhanwala's growing accolades and sets the stage for his continued pursuit of excellence in international shooting competitions.
