How Aashima Ahlawat agreed with her mother: 98.6% in Asian Games boards

At 18, Aashima Ahlawat picked up a gun before she found herself calling from a shotgun, but the switch came with a condition. Her mother wanted proof that the shooting would not come at the expense of academics. Ahlawat performed, scoring 98.6 percent in her Class 12 board exams and gaining the freedom to pursue the sport seriously.

Four years later, the 22-year-old from Rohtak, Haryana is part of India’s shooting contingent for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) named her in the women’s trap team along with Neeru Dhanda and Manisha Keer.

But her path to the shooting range was far from straightforward. Hailing from an entrepreneurial family with roots in the construction industry, her interest was sparked by watching Indian shooters compete in the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

“When I saw Manu Bhaker and Heena Sidhu on stage, I remember thinking that I want to experience this one day,” Ahlawat said, reflecting on the moment that set her on the path to filming.

MOTHER’S PROMISE

Aashima Ahlawat to participate in 2026 Asian Games

This journey also required a great sacrifice from her family.

“My mother didn’t just give me permission, she gave up a lot for it,” she said. “She moved from Rohtak to Delhi, moved our family business just so I could train properly. I don’t take that lightly.”

The support came after Ahlawat fulfilled her side of the deal in the classroom. Her 98.6 per cent in Class 12 gave her mother confidence that a career in sports would not mean compromising on academics.

Even then, the transition to competitive shooting was not immediate. It took almost eight months to get her first shotgun and ammo sorted, so patience was an early part of her journey.

“A medal isn’t the only thing that tells you how far you’ve come,” she said.

FROM JUNIOR FAILURE TO ASIAN MEDAL

Ahlawat’s development has included both hard lessons and significant breakthroughs. At the 2024 ISSF World Junior Championships in Lima, Peru, she finished fourth in the women’s junior trap after qualifying with 113 points and 25 points in the medal match.

“If something goes wrong, I look for the mistake, fix it and come back stronger.

She followed this approach in 2025, winning individual bronze in the women’s trap at the Asian Shooting Championships in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. She made 29 in the final as India also won the team gold in the event with Ahlawat, Neeru Dhanda and Preeti Rajak.

Her progress was also reflected in her international results. ISSF lists her as 48th in the world in women’s trap, while her 2026 record includes 14th at the Tangier World Cup.

AIM FOR THE OLYMPICS

Aashima set her sights on the Olympics.

Ahlawat credits the NRAI with helping to accelerate this progress.

“The NRAI has made it a lot easier for shooters like me, camps, competitions, even something as basic as constant access to ammunition,” she said. “People outside the sport don’t realize it, but it changes everything.” She added, “From the way I’ve gone through NRAI camps over the past two years, I don’t think I would have grown as quickly without it.”

With Aichi-Nagoya making its first appearance at the Asian Games, Ahlawat is already looking beyond the event. The bigger goal is an Olympic spot, with the next phase of her career focused on getting the chance to compete on shooting’s biggest stage.

“The next big goal for me is to make the team again, get an Olympic quota and give my best at the Olympics. That’s the dream I’m chasing now.”

Meanwhile, the mental side of shooting required its own solutions. For the avowed thinker, Ahlawat developed a simple routine.

“I focus on my breathing and honestly, I play a random song in my head on the station,” she said. “It’s my way of feeling calm and safe in a moment that is otherwise so lonely.”

For now, her approach to Aichi-Nagoya remains deliberately simple.

“My plan is goal by goal. I don’t want to think about the medal all the time, I just want to stay present and enjoy the progress,” she said.

That goal-setting approach will be important when Ahlawat steps onto the Asian Games stage for the first time. Aichi-Nagoya offers her another opportunity to turn years of sacrifice, preparation and perseverance into the next step towards her Olympic dream.

– The end

Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

16 Sep 2026 16:10 IST