New Delhi, 16 September (H.S.): For Aashima Ahlawat, the journey in shooting has progressed from academics to the Asian Games. The 22-year-old from Rohtak, Haryana, who began shooting with a pistol at the age of 18, later switched to the shotgun discipline. The change came after she made a promise to her mother. Before allowing her to pursue a career in shooting, her mother had set a condition that Aashima Ahlawat must secure good marks in her studies. Aashima Ahlawat kept her promise by scoring 98.6 per cent in her Class 12 board examinations. Four years later, she is now set to make her Asian Games debut at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Aasima’s entry into sport also has an interesting story. Raised in a family involved in the construction business, she began developing an interest in shooting after watching the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Recalling the moment, she said in a statement, “I remember watching Manu Bhaker and Heena Sidhu on the stage and thinking that I, too, wanted to feel like that someday.”

Her mother has played a pivotal role in Aasima’s journey. She said, “My mother did not just give me permission; she also gave up a lot for it. She moved from Rohtak to Delhi and even relocated our family business so that I could train properly. I do not take that for granted.”

Aasima also faced several challenges during the early years of her shooting career. It took nearly eight months to arrange her first shotgun and ammunition. She said, “A medal is not the only way to tell how far you have travelled.”

She added, “If something does not go right, I look for the mistake, correct it and come back stronger than before.” That mindset also helped her at the 2024 World Championships in Peru. In the final year of her junior career, a miscalculation caused her to miss the final shot, leaving her in fourth place. A few weeks later, she produced a personal best by winning a bronze medal at the World University Championship held in Delhi.

Aasima also credits the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) for her progress. She said, “The National Rifle Association has made things considerably easier for shooters like me. The basics, such as training camps, competitions and even the regular availability of ammunition, matter a lot. People outside the sport do not realise it, but it makes a huge difference.”

She added, “Without the experience and opportunities I have received through the National Rifle Association’s camps over the past two years, I do not think I would have progressed this quickly.”

To deal with the mental pressure associated with shooting, Aasima has developed her own approach. Describing herself as someone who tends to overthink, she said, “I focus on my breathing and, honestly, I keep playing a song in my head throughout the shooting. It is my way of staying calm and feeling secure in that moment, which can otherwise feel quite lonely.”

Aasima is equally clear about her goal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. She said, “My plan is to take it shot by shot. I do not want to think about the medal throughout. I just want to stay in the present and enjoy the process.”

Looking ahead, she said, “My next big goal is to make the team again, secure an Olympic quota and give my best at the Olympics. That is the dream I am pursuing now.”

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar