Abhimanyu Singh Bhati Wins Skeet Gold at NRAI Championship
‘Garv Hai’ athlete Abhimanyu Singh Bhati wins skeet gold ahead of National Shooting Championship
India’s skeet shooter Abhimanyu Singh Bhati has added another important result to his growing career after winning the Men’s Skeet title at the All India Open Shooting Championship, held at the New Moti Bagh Gun Club in Patiala, Punjab, from 22 July to 31 July. The competition was organised by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) and attracted shooters from across the country as they prepared for the domestic season.
Bhati, who is supported through Adani Sportsline’s ‘Garv Hai’ athlete development programme, secured the gold medal after adapting to unfamiliar shooting conditions and difficult weather during the championship. The victory comes several months before the National Shooting Championship, scheduled for December. It gives the young shooter a strong result as he continues his preparations for India’s biggest domestic shooting competition.
Skeet shooting is one of the three shotgun disciplines recognised by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF). Competitors aim at clay targets launched from two fixed towers at high speed and from different angles, making the event one of the most demanding tests of timing, accuracy and concentration in the sport. Even experienced shooters often find it difficult to adjust quickly when competing on a range they have not trained on.
Abhimanyu Singh Bhati said the conditions in Patiala were very different from those he usually experiences during training, but he remained focused on his routine throughout the event.
“The range was different from what I train on and the weather was also challenging, but I trusted my preparation and stayed focused on the basics. Winning this competition gives me a lot of confidence going into the National Shooting Championship. Adani Sportsline’s support has played an important role in helping me prepare and perform at my best,” said Abhimanyu.
His coach, Kesari Singh Bhati, guided him during the competition as he adjusted to the venue and changing conditions. Success in shotgun shooting often depends on maintaining consistency over several rounds, where even a small lapse in concentration can decide the final standings.
The All India Open Shooting Championship has become an important event in the Indian shooting calendar because it allows athletes to compete against leading domestic talent outside the National Championships. Performances in such tournaments help shooters assess their form and identify areas that need improvement before the country’s biggest competitions.
India has developed into one of the world’s strongest shooting nations over the past two decades. Indian shooters have won medals at the Olympic Games, World Championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and ISSF World Cups, with success coming across rifle, pistol and shotgun events. While rifle and pistol disciplines have produced many of the country’s international medal winners, shotgun events such as skeet and trap have also gained attention through increased investment in coaching, sports science and modern training methods.
Preparing for elite shooting involves far more than technical practice. Many athletes now work with physiotherapists, sports psychologists, nutrition experts and strength trainers to improve both physical fitness and mental focus. According to Adani Sportsline, Bhati receives specialist support in physiotherapy and mental conditioning through its ‘Garv Hai’ initiative. Such support is increasingly common among high-performance athletes, particularly in sports where concentration and emotional control can influence results as much as technical skill.
The National Rifle Association of India has continued to expand domestic competitions in recent years to provide regular match experience for emerging athletes. Strong performances in national events often help shooters earn selection opportunities for international competitions, depending on qualification criteria and trials.
Abhimanyu Singh Bhati’s latest achievement adds to the growing list of young Indian shooters seeking to establish themselves at the highest level. Winning against a competitive domestic field provides confidence, but it also raises expectations ahead of the National Shooting Championship, where many of India’s leading shooters will compete for national honours and future selection opportunities.
For Abhimanyu Singh Bhati, the gold medal in Patiala represents more than a single tournament victory. Competing successfully on an unfamiliar range under difficult weather conditions demonstrated his ability to adjust during competition, a quality that becomes increasingly important in national and international events where venues, lighting and weather often change from one competition to another.
Attention now turns to the National Shooting Championship in December, where Bhati will aim to build on his recent form. A strong performance there could strengthen his position among India’s promising skeet shooters and provide another step towards higher-level competition.
With India’s shooting programme continuing to produce athletes capable of competing on the world stage, performances in domestic championships remain an important measure of future potential. Bhati’s victory in Patiala has placed him among the shooters to watch as the country’s competitive season moves towards its biggest event later this year.