Indian Army shooter Kedarling Balakrishna Uchaganve, a 27-year-old Naib Subedar of the 27 Madras Regiment, is set to represent India at the upcoming Asian Games — a milestone he views as a stepping stone toward his ultimate goal: an Olympic medal at Los Angeles. What makes his story remarkable is that he had never held a pistol before joining the Army in 2018.

An Unlikely Beginning

Kedarling grew up in a small agricultural village in Karnataka, where his sporting background was rooted in athletics — he competed in the 1500m at the district level. Shooting was entirely outside his world. The only shooter he had ever heard of was Abhinav Bindra, and that only because the name appeared in general knowledge textbooks.

'I did not know much about shooting before joining the Army. When I joined in 2018, I discovered that there was a shooting range and that talent was being identified. I was selected, and that was when I really came to know about shooting,' Kedarling recalled.

From Shared Equipment to International Stages

His early training was basic — shared equipment, limited information, and a sport he was still learning to understand. It was exposure to domestic competitions and shooting-related content that gradually shifted his perspective. 'When we started getting outdoor exposure and going to domestic competitions, we began to understand that this could actually become a career,' he said.

As his performances improved, the Army provided him with an individual pistol. His support network has since expanded to include the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), the Sports Authority of India (SAI), and a personal sponsor — collectively enabling access to international camps and competitions. He competed at a senior World Cup in 2022 before earning his Asian Games berth.

The Mental Game

Kedarling credits meditation as a cornerstone of his preparation. The discipline of breath control and present-moment focus, he says, directly mirrors what pistol shooting demands. 'During meditation, I focus on my breathing and on the situation, so that I can stay in the present. That helps me,' he said.

His approach to competition reflects the same philosophy. Rather than letting the scale of an event alter his mindset, he trusts his training. 'If we follow our routine and execute our training in the right way, the medal will come automatically,' he said.

Family, Village, and the Weight of Expectation

Back in his Karnataka village, Kedarling's Asian Games selection has been received with immense pride. Coming from a family dependent on agriculture, the journey — from Army enlistment to international competition — carries significance well beyond sport. 'Coming from a village, getting a job and then getting an opportunity to go abroad is a big thing,' he said.

His success has made him a source of inspiration for younger residents of his village. Yet Kedarling says he does not allow community or institutional expectations to weigh on him. 'There is no pressure. If I perform well, everything will happen automatically — the country's name, my village's name and the Army's name,' he said.

The Road to Los Angeles

With the Asian Games now imminent, Kedarling's stated ambition reaches beyond the continental stage. 'My main goal is the Olympics. I want to go to the Olympics in Los Angeles and win a medal,' he said plainly. His guiding philosophy, distilled from years of patient progress, is equally direct: 'Just be patient. You will get what you want in time. Don't run ahead of time.'

From a first encounter with a shooting range in 2018 to a senior World Cup appearance in 2022 and now an Asian Games debut, Kedarling's ascent has been methodical. The next chapter opens at the Asian Games — but the Karnataka soldier already has his sights set on Los Angeles 2028.