From Family Hunting Heritage to the Asian Games: Raiza Dhillon’s Journey in Shooting

For Raiza Dhillon, shooting was never a completely unfamiliar world. Long before she began competing internationally, the sport was connected to her family and its traditions in Shamgarh, Haryana, where firearms had been part of everyday life for generations.

But turning that family heritage into an international sporting career was a journey that Raiza had to build herself. At 12, her father encouraged her to try shooting formally, initially more out of curiosity than expectation. Ten years later, the 22-year-old from Chandigarh is preparing for her first Asian Games, having earned selection to India's squad for the women's senior skeet event.

“We always had guns at home. It's part of our family heritage. My father wanted me to try shooting just for fun, to see if I'd build an interest in it. That's what really got me started,” Dhillon said. What began as an experiment quickly became something more serious.

Dhillon's first formal experience came in 10m air rifle, a discipline that offered a more manageable introduction for a young athlete. However, her family and coach had already identified shotgun shooting as the longer-term direction.

At 16, Dhillon made the transition to shotgun, moving into a discipline that demands a very different combination of timing, visual tracking, movement and concentration.

“We always wanted to do shotgun, but at that age, the weapon was too heavy for me. My parents and coach thought it wasn't the right time yet, so I trained on rifle first and got some competition exposure before making the switch,” she explained.

The transition proved successful. Dhillon gradually established herself as one of India's promising young skeet shooters and began competing at the international level.

Her parents remained central to that journey, although they approached her sporting career differently.Her father, a businessman and agriculturalist, was enthusiastic from the beginning. Her mother, who serves as the sarpanch of their village, was initially more cautious about her only child pursuing an outdoor sport full-time.

That hesitation eventually disappeared as Dhillon's performances improved. “My mom was a bit cautious in the start, she didn't want me to be in such an outdoor sport all the time. But eventually, because I was doing so well and I was so happy, she was happy in my happiness too,” Dhillon said.

Dhillon describes herself as an introvert during her childhood but says shooting gradually transformed her confidence. For her, shotgun shooting provides a distinct sense of empowerment.

“There's something about shooting a shotgun that gives you this empowerment. Even after all these years, it still gives me a thrill. It's changed my confidence and my whole approach to life,” she said.

That confidence was tested severely when she won an Olympic quota in 2024 at just 20 years of age. Earning the quota was a major achievement, but defending her place in India's Paris Olympic team created a different kind of pressure.

“The stress of competing at the Olympics at such a young age was difficult to cope with. But it was also a learning lesson; it made me a stronger person,” she said.

The experience gave Dhillon an early lesson in the demands of elite sport, particularly the mental pressure that comes with selection, expectations, and competing for a place on an international team.

Throughout her career, Dhillon has relied on two distinct forms of support.

Her coaches provide the technical perspective, identifying mistakes that can be difficult for a shooter to recognize independently. Her parents, meanwhile, have provided the emotional support required to navigate the highs and lows of elite competition.

“My coach helps me with the technical side; sometimes you don't see your own mistakes as a shooter, but someone watching you does. My parents have always been there for the emotional side, giving me both the push and the soft space to land when I needed it,” she said.

https://www.indiasportshub.com/articles/from-a-borrowed-rifle-to-the-asian-games-vidarsa-k-vinod-s-remarkable-journey-of-resilience

Dhillon also credits the structured environment provided by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) for helping her develop as an international shooter. The camps, she says, provide athletes with access to ammunition, clay targets, coaches, and the broader support required to train at a high level.

“The camps NRAI gives us have been a game changer,” Dhillon said. She particularly highlighted the preparation camps held ahead of major international competitions, where athletes have access to psychologists, physiotherapists, and other support staff.

That system, according to Dhillon, has helped Indian shooters approach overseas competitions with greater preparation and confidence.

Asian Games debut brings a new opportunity

Now, the next challenge is the Asian Games. For Dhillon, competing in the women's skeet event in Aichi-Nagoya will mark another important milestone in a career that began with a 12-year-old trying shooting because her father wanted to see whether she would enjoy it.

Her ambition is clear: a podium finish.

But she also wants to approach her first Asian Games without allowing the magnitude of the occasion to overwhelm her. “This is my first Asian Games, and I'm really excited. My goal is a podium finish, but just as much, I want to enjoy the experience, because whenever I truly enjoy myself, my performance naturally gets better,” she said.

That philosophy reflects how far Dhillon has traveled since her first days with a rifle.

Her family may have introduced her to firearms through generations of hunting traditions. Her father may have been the one who encouraged her to try shooting. But the international career that followed has been built through her own training, performances, and resilience.

From a family heritage to an Asian Games debut, Raiza Dhillon now has the opportunity to create a legacy that belongs entirely to her.

Her family gave her the guns. Everything she has done with them since, she has earned herself.