Anjali Bhagwat is an Indian sport shooter who specialises in rifle events. She is widely regarded as one of India's most successful women shooters, having represented the country at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and ISSF World Cup events through the late 1990s and 2000s.
Key Facts
| Full name | Anjali Vedpathak Bhagwat |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| Sport | Shooting |
| Event | 10 m air rifle, 50 m rifle three positions |
| Olympics | Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 |
Background
Bhagwat is from Maharashtra and trained at the Maharashtra Rifle Association before moving on to international competition. She took up shooting through the National Cadet Corps and went on to compete on the senior Indian team, becoming a prominent face of Indian rifle shooting in an era that also saw the rise of Abhinav Bindra, Gagan Narang and Suma Shirur.
Career
Bhagwat made her Olympic debut at the Sydney 2000 Games, where she competed in the women's 10 m air rifle event, and represented India again at the Athens 2004 Olympics. She has been a multiple-medal winner at the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Shooting Championships, contributing to India's strong performances in shooting at these competitions.
On the ISSF World Cup circuit, Bhagwat finished as the women's air rifle champion at the World Cup Final in Munich in 2003, a high point of her international career. She also competed at the Asian Games and the ISSF World Championships.
Honours and Recognition
- Recipient of the Arjuna Award from the Government of India for her achievements in shooting.
- Recipient of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India's highest sporting honour, for her performances in international shooting.
- Recognised by the Maharashtra government with the Shiv Chhatrapati Award for sport.
Significance
Bhagwat played a key role in raising the profile of women's shooting in India during a period when Indian shooters began consistently challenging at the highest levels. Her successes at Commonwealth and World Cup level helped establish a pipeline of women rifle shooters in India and contributed to the sport's growing visibility before the Olympic medals won by Indian shooters in subsequent years.
Related Topics
- Shooting sports in India
- National Rifle Association of India
- Suma Shirur
- Abhinav Bindra
- Gagan Narang
- Arjuna Award
- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
- India at the 2000 Summer Olympics
- India at the 2004 Summer Olympics
References
- Wikidata: Q4765728
- International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) athlete records
- National Rifle Association of India