Class topper, wooden gun, Nano rides: How Shapath found his way in Asian Games
Class topper Shapath Bharadwaj fell in love with shooting at nine after watching his elder brother train. His father, S Raju, supported the dream, even getting a carpenter to make a wooden dummy gun for dry training. Four times a week, Shapath travelled from Meerut to the Karni Shooting Range in a Nano, studying in the back seat. Years later, that passion has taken him to the Asian Games, where…
Shapath Bharadwaj, an accomplished athlete, was born into a family where education was highly valued. His father, S Raju, was a journalist and Shapath was the eldest of his siblings. Despite his academic prowess, Shapath had always been drawn to the sport of shooting. At the age of nine, he witnessed his elder brother training at a shooting range and was immediately captivated by the sight of gunshots, clay targets being hit, and the targets breaking into pieces.
This fascination led him to request his own gun, which his father eventually helped him obtain by commissioning a dummy shotgun from a carpenter. Shapath's journey from his studies to the shooting range became a weekly routine, involving a long trip to the Karni Shooting Range in Tughlakabad. This daily regimen instilled in him the values of discipline, time management, and hard work.
His athletic achievements soon began to accumulate, with gold medals in double trap at the 13th International Grand Prix in Porpetto, Italy, in 2016, and silver in the team event at the 8th International Shotgun Cup in Orimattila, Finland. Shapath's dedication to his sport led him to represent India in trap shooting at the Asian Games.
He views his participation in the Asian Games as an opportunity to give his all for his country, acknowledging the pride and responsibility that come with representing India on the international stage.
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