People Of Adani
All Eyes On ‘Gold’
Sneha T S
Adani Sportsline's 'Garv Hai' athlete Abhimanyu Singh Bhati clinched the gold medal in the Men's Skeet event at the All-India Open Shooting Championship (Pre-National).
Adding another feather to his cap, skeet shooter Abhimanyu Singh Bhati, Adani Sportsline's 'Garv Hai' athlete, clinched gold in the Men's Skeet event at the All-India Open Shooting Championship (Pre-National), organised by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) at New Moti Bagh Gun Club in Patiala, Punjab.
Competing at an unfamiliar range, where differences in layout, surroundings and weather can test a shooter's adaptability, Bhati stayed composed and focused on his own performance.With the target moving at a speed of 90 km/hr, every shot demands precision, timing and complete concentration.
“Initially, I was a little hesitant because of the unfamiliar conditions, but I decided to look at it as a challenge rather than a disadvantage. I tried to put all my energy into focusing on my own performance rather than the things I could not control,” he said.
A golden chapter unfolds in Patiala.
Destiny Takes Aim
There is something faintly providential about the way certain individuals find their calling, and Abhimanyu Singh Bhati's story is a case in point. Cricket, an obsession for most Indians, was a constant through his childhood. Shooting, by contrast, was never planned. It simply arrived.
In 2022, during a family holiday to Jaisalmer, Singh tried skeet shooting at a local shooting range, shouldering a shotgun with little more than curiosity. “That day became the starting point of my shooting journey,” he recalls. “From then until today, there has been no looking back,” he says.
His journey in competitive shooting began under Coach Kesari Singh Bhati, who first recognised his potential and encouraged him to pursue the sport.
Today he trains under Baba P.S. Bedi, a former Indian skeet shooter who has represented India Twice at the Commonwealth Games. Singh sees Bedi as both mentor and critic. “He tells me clearly what I need to improve, guiding me on the techniques that I need to adopt,” Singh said.
Describing his routine, he said, “My day usually starts with early morning practice at the shooting range. Once I am at the range, my entire focus is on the technique.”
Abhimanyu Singh Bhati, with Karan Adani, a leader who sees the potential, a Champion who turns it into possibility.
Trail of ‘Targets’
Gold, All India Open Championship (Pre-National), Patiala, 2026
2nd Rank, 45th Gujarat State Championships, 2026
Gold (Team), 45th Gujarat State Championships, 2026
Silver, 3rd Gandhinagar District Championships
Silver, 44th Gujarat State Championships, 2025
Gold, All India Championship (Pre-National), MHOW, 2025
Bronze, All India Open (Pre-National) Championship, Patiala, 2024
Silver, All India Open (Pre-National) Championship, MHOW, 2024
Bronze (Team), All India Open Championship (Pre-National), Bhopal, 2023
Backing the Pride
Bhati, Associate Manager at the MD's Office, Adani Ports and SEZ, is pursuing his sporting ambitions with the support of Adani Sportsline's 'Garv Hai' initiative.
The programme has enabled him to access quality coaching, better sporting equipment, specialised training sessions and opportunities to train at better ranges, helping him take his sporting journey to the next level.
He credits Chairman Gautam Adani, Karan Adani (Managing Director - Adani Ports & SEZ) and Pranav Adani (Managing Director– Argo, Oil & Gas), for their guidance and constant encouragement throughout his journey.
“Karan sir has always supported me in balancing work with training and competitions,” he says. “His encouragement gives me the confidence to keep pursuing my sporting goals.”
Their faith in him motivates Bhati to train harder and give his best at every tournament. “I do not want to let them down. Their belief in me pushes me to work harder and give every competition my complete focus,” he says.
Conquering the podium.
Beyond the Barrel
Beyond shooting, he continues to nurture the sportsman he was before becoming a marksman. Cricket remains close to his heart. “I have always enjoyed cricket. It was a big part of my life before shooting, and I still follow the game whenever I can,” he says.
He also follows the teachings of Lord Shri Krishna, drawing perspective from their emphasis on staying composed under pressure and focusing on the process rather than the outcome.
Films such as “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag” and “Hustle” appeal to him for similar reasons. “The sport in these movies may be different, but the emotions are universal: the self-doubt, the pressure and the setbacks are part of every athlete's journey,” he says.
The Home Range
No sportsman of consequence competes entirely alone; Bhati is quick to acknowledge the quiet regiment behind him. “My wife and my father are my biggest support,” he says. “She understands the focus and dedication the sport demands and motivates me to do my best.” His daughter is his most ardent cheerleader, keeping count of his medals and sending him off with a small handmade token, often a bracelet, for luck.
Sight Set on December
With the National Shooting Championship drawing closer in December, Bhati is stepping up both the intensity and consistency of his practice, as demand among shooters rises and Practice Range, ammunition availability becomes increasingly limited. Competitors are intensifying their preparations for the same contest, making every session count.
“I want to use this period to understand where I am going wrong and work on those areas before the championship,” he says. He plans to increase his sessions with coach Bedi, using the additional time to identify weaknesses, refine his technique and build greater consistency before the competition begins.