Abhimanyu Singh Bhati wins silver in Men's Skeet at Pre-Nationals, targets Nationals in November
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Abhimanyu Singh Bhati, a young skeet shooter backed by Adani Sportsline, claimed a silver medal at the 11th All India Open (Pre-National) Shooting Championship in New Delhi, and is now setting his sights on the National Shooting Championship scheduled for November 2026. The result has injected fresh confidence into the Ahmedabad-based athlete ahead of what he considers the season's defining event.
How the Medal Was Decided
Abhimanyu finished the Men's Skeet event with a score of 43 out of 50, level with the gold medallist. The competition, held from 5 to 7 October, used a countback system to separate tied competitors, and Abhimanyu narrowly missed the top spot through that tiebreaker. The result, while bittersweet, underscores his competitive standing at the national level.
What the Shooter Said
'Missing gold on countback after scoring 43 is disappointing, but I'm happy with how I competed. It was a good test. It gives me confidence for the next stage of competition in November. I'm grateful to my coach, Baba P.S. Bedi, my mentor, Kesari Singh Bhati, and Adani Sportsline for their support,' Abhimanyu said.
Training Structure and Coaching Support
Abhimanyu has been training under coach Baba P.S. Bedi for the past four to five months, while continuing to receive guidance from mentor Kesari Singh Bhati. The dual support structure is focused on sharpening his technique and building consistency across multi-day competitive formats — a critical requirement in precision disciplines like skeet shooting.
Adani Sportsline's 'Garv Hai' Initiative
Adani Sportsline has been supporting Abhimanyu through its 'Garv Hai' initiative since August 2025, providing specialist physiotherapy and mental conditioning. According to the programme details, physiotherapy helps him manage the physical demands of intensive training, while mental conditioning is aimed at maintaining focus and composure under pressure — both crucial in a sport where fractions of a point determine outcomes. This is the kind of holistic athlete development that Indian shooting's pipeline has historically lacked outside the top national squads.
Road to the Nationals
The pre-national result serves as a qualifying indicator for the National Shooting Championship in November. Abhimanyu's score of 43/50 — matching the eventual gold medallist — positions him among the frontrunners. The coming weeks will be focused on refining consistency, with the coaching staff expected to address the marginal errors that cost him gold on countback.