New Delhi: When Abhinav Bindra won the gold medal for India in shooting at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Agrima Kanwar was just 18 months old. But as she grew up and learned about his achievements, she began to consider Bindra her role model. Last week, Agrima brought glory to Himachal Pradesh by winning the state’s first medal at the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 (Bihar) with a silver in the women’s skeet shooting event.
Agrima Knawar said, “When I started shooting, I didn’t know much about Abhinav Bindra. But a few years ago, when I began pistol shooting, my father (a colonel in the Indian Army) gifted me Bindra sir’s autobiography A Shot at History. He said it would teach me a lot—and he was absolutely right.”
Agrima Kanwar was particularly moved by the story of how Bindra missed out on a medal at the Athens 2004 Olympics. She said, “Reading about how he dealt with that failure—how he trained with patience and precision, and how he made a comeback—had a deep impact on me. I realised that failures are part of the journey.”
Her connection with Bindra goes beyond mere admiration. She adds, “Whenever I have a bad day at the shooting range, I reread his book. Just a few lines remind me that not every day needs to be perfect. Every day is a new opportunity. That mindset has transformed both my shooting and my outlook.”
Agrima Kanwar continues, “Since my father is in the army, I’ve been fascinated by guns since childhood. Pistol shooting is steady and takes place indoors, while skeet shooting is influenced by outdoor conditions like wind, rain, and other uncertainties, which makes it more challenging. That’s what I love about it.” She has trained under Olympian Mairaj Ahmad Khan, who competed at Rio and Tokyo.
Though her parents are originally from Una, Himachal Pradesh, Agrima was born in Jalandhar. Nevertheless, she has represented Himachal Pradesh in two editions of the Khelo India Youth Games. She says, “I’ve always felt a strong connection to Himachal. I noticed that our state doesn’t have much representation in such events, so I felt it was time to bring my roots to the forefront.”
Last year, Agrima finished fifth at the Khelo India Youth Games in Chennai. But this time, she stayed calm under pressure and shot with precision to claim the medal she had dreamed of. “This medal has boosted my confidence. Now I know that if I can do it once, I can do it again. My father always tells me—focus on one shot at a time. Don’t overthink. Focus on the next attempt. That’s exactly what Bindra sir did too!”
Agrima’s next goal is to earn a spot on the junior national team and win medals at upcoming World Cup events. But she also harbours another dream—to meet Abhinav Bindra.
She concluded by saying, “Maybe I won’t even be able to speak when I see him, but I will definitely thank him. His story has inspired me to keep going. And I know he has inspired countless athletes like me.”
