Indian shooter Himanshu Dhillon claimed a silver medal in the men's 10m air rifle event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on 21 September, marking his first senior international medal and dedicating the achievement to his family, coach Pooja Ghatkar, and psychologist Shivam Dwivedi.

A Milestone Moment for Dhillon

'It is a very proud moment for me. I am very happy because this is my first senior medal. And I am very happy to have another medal in my medal box. I have won a silver medal for my country. It is a very good thing,' Dhillon said after the event.

The silver adds to what has been a growing medals haul for the young Indian shooter, but the Nagoya podium finish carries special significance — it is the first time Dhillon has stood on the senior-level stage at a multi-sport continental championship.

The Support System Behind the Medal

Dhillon was emphatic in crediting his support network. 'I dedicate this medal to my family. I cannot forget my parents. Secondly, I dedicate this medal to my coach, Ms. Pooja Ghatkar. And thirdly, I dedicate this medal to my psychologist, Mr. Shivam Dwivedi,' he said.

He singled out Ghatkar for keeping him mentally anchored during the competition. 'He kept me in the zone and kept me away from every distraction,' Dhillon added, noting that his coach pushed him consistently in the lead-up to the Games. The mention of a sports psychologist is notable — mental conditioning has become an increasingly important tool for India's shooting programme, which has produced Olympic and Asian Games podium finishers in recent years.

Role Models: Bindra and Kohli

Asked about the sporting figures who inspire him, Dhillon named Abhinav Bindra — India's only individual Olympic gold medallist — as his primary role model in shooting, while also citing Virat Kohli as a figure he follows closely across other sports. 'I consider Mr. Abhinav Bindra as a role model. In personal sports or other sports, I follow Virat Kohli a lot,' he said.

The comparison to Bindra is significant for any Indian shooter — the former world number one set the gold standard when he won at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and his influence on the country's shooting culture has been profound.

First Call Home After the Win

Dhillon revealed that his father was travelling abroad at the time of the competition and was unreachable immediately after the event. He managed to speak briefly with his mother, who he said was 'very proud' and 'very happy.' He noted the conversation was short and that he planned a longer call once he returned to the hotel.

The personal detail underscores the sacrifices that accompany competitive sport at this level — podium moments are often shared across time zones and uncertain schedules.

What This Means for India's Shooting Campaign

India has traditionally performed strongly in shooting at the Asian Games, and Dhillon's silver continues that trend. This comes amid a broader push to develop the next generation of shooters beyond the established names, with the national programme increasingly investing in both technical coaching and sports psychology. Dhillon's performance at Nagoya will likely earn him greater attention from selectors as qualification cycles for future international events get underway.