From 98.6% in Class 12 to the Asian Games: How Aashima Ahlawat Chose Shooting

At 18, Aashima Ahlawat was faced with a choice that would shape the next chapter of her life. Academics had been a priority, and she had her sights set on getting into her dream college. Shooting, meanwhile, was still a relatively new possibility.

The young athlete from Rohtak, Haryana, eventually struck a deal with her mother: perform well in her Class 12 board examinations and she could pursue shooting seriously. Ahlawat kept her side of the bargain. She scored an impressive 98.6% in Class 12, demonstrating that her sporting ambitions did not come at the expense of her academic goals. Four years later, the 22-year-old is preparing to make her Asian Games debut in Aichi-Nagoya, completing a remarkable transition from student with a strong academic record to international shotgun shooter.

Her journey into shooting, however, began somewhat differently. Coming from a business family involved in construction, Ahlawat was inspired after watching the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The performances of Indian shooters Manu Bhaker and Heena Sidhu left a lasting impression on her. “Seeing Manu Bhaker and Heena Sidhu on that stage, I remember thinking, I want to feel that someday,” Ahlawat recalled.

That moment planted the idea of becoming a shooter. At 18, she initially picked up a pistol before eventually finding her calling in shotgun shooting. But pursuing the sport required a commitment from her entire family, particularly her mother. Ahlawat says her mother made significant personal and professional sacrifices to ensure she had the right environment to train.

“My mother didn't just give me permission, she gave up a lot for it,” Ahlawat said. “She moved from Rohtak to Delhi, shifted our family business, just so I could train properly. That's not something I take lightly.” The early stages of her shooting career were far from straightforward. It took almost eight months for her to get her first shotgun and ammunition sorted, adding another layer of difficulty to her transition into competitive shooting.

Those early obstacles helped shape the mindset she carries today. “A medal is not the only thing that tells you how far you've come,” she said. For Ahlawat, setbacks are treated as opportunities to identify problems rather than reasons to dwell on disappointment. “If something doesn't go right, I look for the mistake, fix it, and come back stronger,” she explained. That approach was tested during the 2024 World Championships in Peru, held during the final year of her junior career. A miscalculation on the final target cost her an opportunity to finish higher and saw her end the competition in fourth place.

Instead of allowing the disappointment to linger, Ahlawat responded weeks later at the World University Championships in Delhi, where she won a bronze medal and produced a personal best. Her development has also been supported by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI). Ahlawat credits the organisation's camps, competitions and access to ammunition with helping her make significant progress over the last two years.

“NRAI has made things so much easier for shooters like me, the camps, the competitions, and even something as basic as steady access to ammunition,” she said. “People outside the sport don't realise it, but it changes everything.” She added that the exposure provided through NRAI camps over the past two years had accelerated her development.

The mental demands of shooting have been another part of Ahlawat's evolution. Despite describing herself as an “overthinker”, she has developed simple routines to stay composed on the range. “I focus on my breathing, and honestly, I just play a random song on loop in my head at the station,” she said. For Ahlawat, the routine helps her feel calm in what can otherwise be an intensely solitary competitive environment.

Now, the biggest stage of her career awaits.

As she prepares for her maiden Asian Games appearance in Aichi-Nagoya, Ahlawat is deliberately keeping her focus away from the pressure of medals. Her strategy is straightforward: take the competition one target at a time.

ISH Asian Games Coverage

“My plan is target by target. I don't want to think about the medal the whole time, I just want to stay present and enjoy the process,” she said.

The Asian Games will be another important step in a journey that began with a conversation with her maother and a promise to excel academically. From scoring 98.6% in Class 12 to earning a place in India's Asian Games squad, Ahlawat has already travelled a considerable distance in four years.

But she is looking further ahead.

Her next ambitions include making the Indian team again, earning an Olympic quota and eventually competing at the Olympics.

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

For a shooter who once had to first prove herself in the classroom before being allowed to chase her sporting dream, Aashima Ahlawat's Asian Games debut represents the latest milestone in a journey built on commitment, family sacrifice, resilience and an ability to keep moving forward after setbacks.