Looks like many people have activated their bullseye mood.
Pistol shooting is emerging as a popular activity in India, attracting enthusiasts beyond the competitive arena.
While the sport continues to bring international recognition through India’s medal-winning shooters, many people are now taking it up recreationally for its benefits.
Hit The Mark
Shooting in India has grown significantly over the past two decades, driven by strong institutional support and a rising pool of young talent.
“Recent success at the Olympics and Asian Games reflects not only medal-winning potential but also growing depth in the sport.
Despite being a niche discipline, shooting has become a model of sustained development and consistent performance,” says Heena Sidhu, a two-time Olympian and former World No. 1 pistol shooter, who is Director of the Ronak Pandit Shooting Centre, which trains aspiring pistol shooters.
Competition & Recreation
Interest in pistol shooting is growing as more people seek a sport that challenges both mind and body.
“Pistol shooting requires focus, patience, discipline and the ability to perform consistently under pressure.
The achievements of Indian shooters and the growth of shooting academies have made the sport more accessible.
The sport attracts participants aged nine to 60, including children, professionals, homemakers and senior citizens.
What makes shooting unique is that it rewards concentration, consistency and self-control far more than physical strength,” says Snehal Papalkar, ISSF (International Shooting Sports Federation) A-licence high-performance coach at Prabodhankar Thackeray Krida Sankul Kendra, Mumbai.
Benefits Of Taking Aim
Shooting helps children build concentration, patience and confidence, while encouraging discipline and resilience.
“For senior citizens, it is a way to stay mentally active and continue learning.
One of the most rewarding parts of coaching is seeing a shy child gain confidence or a senior discover a new passion,” says Papalkar.
Inspired by her father, a professional athlete, Hridaya Pravin Kadam (12) took up 10m pistol shooting and now trains with Golden Shots at the Precihole Foundation in Thane.
She has already secured several inter-school titles, including gold at the CISCE Zonal Championship 2025 (Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations).
“The sport has strengthened my focus, concentration and stamina.
There’s something incredibly exciting about seeing a shot land exactly where I aimed,” she says.
On The Firing Line
Many adults in their thirties and forties, often returning to a passion they had set aside while focusing on studies, careers and family responsibilities.
“Shooting is deeply meditative.
It helps people slow down, focus and stay present.
It’s a sport that many don’t necessarily enjoy watching, but love participating in because of the unique sense of concentration and excitement it offers,” says Sidhu.
The sport relies on repetition and sustained focus, creating space to disconnect from work and daily pressures.
“For many participants, especially those in their forties and beyond, the appeal extends well beyond competition or medals.
Shooting offers an opportunity to reconnect with themselves, strengthen mental discipline and develop greater self-awareness.
That sense of self-discovery is what keeps many returning to the range,” adds Sidhu.
Calm Behind The Trigger
Subramanian Hariharan (49), a software engineering programme manager from Chennai, has found pistol shooting both a competitive pursuit and a source of recreation for nearly a decade.
“Success in shooting depends on a strong routine.
I enjoy competing against talented athletes of all ages,” he says.
The sport has helped him develop confidence, resilience and composure under pressure.
Qualifying for the National Championships remains one of his proudest achievements.
“Pistol shooting has improved my focus, breath control and balance,” he says.
A Meditative Experience
Devyani Patankar, 49, sees pistol shooting as a rare combination of challenge and mindfulness.
After first taking up the sport as an NCC sergeant in school, she returned to it at 45, once her children had grown up, while balancing leadership roles as Managing Partner at Growth Insure and Managing Director at Pi Tech Solutions Pvt.
Over the years, the sport has strengthened her self-awareness, composure and discipline, lessons she applies both on the range and in everyday life.
“Shooting demands discipline, fitness and consistency.
Balancing it with a professional career isn’t easy, but that’s what makes it rewarding.
Shooting feels like meditation.
It helps me stay present and completely immersed in the process,” says Devyani.
Aim, Focus, Shoot
One of the biggest misconceptions about shooting is that it is prohibitively expensive.
Many academies provide equipment on rent or let beginners use academy-owned pistols to start without a large upfront investment.
This gives newcomers a chance to learn the basics before deciding whether to invest in their own equipment.
“Don’t worry about your age, background or sporting experience.
Train with a qualified coach at an authorised range that prioritises safety, and focus on mastering the fundamentals.
Shooting is about much more than hitting a target.
It builds focus, confidence, discipline and mental control, skills that extend far beyond the range,” says Papalkar.
Pistol shooting requires focus, patience, discipline and the ability to perform consistently under pressure.
— Snehal Papalkar, A-licence high-performance coach, Prabodhankar Thackeray Krida Sankul Kendra, Mumbai
Recent success at the Olympics and Asian Games reflects not only medal-winning potential but also growing depth in the sport.
— Heena Sidhu, two-time Olympian and former World No. 1 pistol shooter
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
