Anish Bhanwala and Narmada Raju Clinch Gold in Thrilling Shooting Finals at 38th National Games
The Trishool Shooting Range in Dehradun was the stage for a high-octane showdown at the 38th National Games, with two shooting stars, Anish Bhanwala and Narmada Nithin Raju, emerging victorious in their respective finals.
In the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men’s Final, Anish Bhanwala (Haryana) added another gold to his collection, finishing with 31 hits three ahead of the silver medalist Gurpreet Singh (Services Sports Control Board), who posted 28 hits. Vijayveer Sidhu (Punjab) rounded out the podium with 26 hits, securing the bronze.
Bhanwala, who returned to competition after a lengthy break, was all smiles following the victory: “it feels great to be back. This is my second gold at the National Games my first was in Ahmedabad. The long break has been tough, but it’s all part of the journey.”
The 22-year-old shooter, who has been competing for over a decade, also shared his appreciation for the Uttarakhand shooting facilities, calling them among the best in the world.
“The infrastructure here is fantastic. I’m really impressed by the range, and I would love to return for training.”
Meanwhile, in the 10m Air Rifle Women’s Final, Narmada Nithin Raju (Tamil Nadu) edged out Arya Rajesh Borse (Maharashtra) to claim the gold with an impressive 254.4 score. Ramita Jindal (Haryana) secured bronze with 230.4.
Narmada Raju, visibly thrilled, said, “I can’t express how happy I am. Representing my state is always a point of pride.
Handling pressure on the range is part of the game, but today, it all came together.”
Reflecting on her journey, Raju had powerful words for young athletes: “Instead of looking for role models, be your own. Push yourself every day, and you’ll find success.”
With the shooting finals wrapped up, attention shifted to the 10m Air Rifle Men’s qualifying round, where Rudrankksh Patil (Maharashtra) and Arjun Babuta (Punjab) led the pack, both scoring 633.8.
They’ll be joined by Parth Mane (Maharashtra) and others in what promises to be another thrilling showdown tomorrow.
