Wanted: A shot in the arm

This memory is in fact one of several that Bhagwat shared with the audience as part of the two-hour session of Loksatta Viva Lounge held at Express Towers,Nariman Point. An interactive property launched by Loksatta Viva — a weekly lifestyle supplement of Loksatta aimed at its young Maharashtrian women readers — Loksatta Viva Lounge celebrates the achievements of extraordinary women from different walks of life and Bhagwat was its second guest.

Even as actor and guest editor Sonali Kulkarni played host at the discussion,Bhagwat admitted that when she first picked up a rifle she had no idea about the sport or the fact that she would go on to master it. “As an NCC cadet,I played many sports such as kabaddi,judo and karate. I was also into mountaineering. It was during this time that I got my first glimpse into the world of rifle shooting. I learnt it over a period of seven days and I realised I had a knack for it,” she looks back. However,Bhagwat — who has won prestigious awards such as Arjuna Award (2000) and Rajiv Gandhi Khel-Ratna (2003) after setting new records in international competitions — points out that her journey to the top was not easy. “Initially,we did not have much support from the government; we didn’t even have enough rifles and bullets to practise with. Today,the athletes have it much better,” she says,adding that her success in the sport has been the result of hard work and a strong mind.

“Shooting is all about mental power. When you have to hit a target at a certain distance,it’s about shutting out the world. So the sport teaches you to be much more focussed. Luckily for me,I also had the backing of a wonderful family that stood by me through thick and thin. I am forever grateful to them,” says the shooter,who,still practises the sport even though she not heading to the Olympics this time.

Pune-based Bhagwat is currently coaching a group of teenagers. “The right age to enter this sport is when one is 13-14 years old. That’s the time when one can be guided and the skill set can be enhanced. Though there’s a lot more awareness about the sport now,we still have a long way to go. For instance,in Germany,every household has a rifle shooter and their local clubs and associations take the initiative to encourage participation from all quarters. We need to move in that direction,” she says.