From Battlefield to Bullseye’: Anantnag Army JCO secures Olympic quota for Paris Games

Amir Bhat shares his remarkable journey to international shooting stage, aims for Gold

Anantnag, Apr 26 (KNO): A 29-year-old Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) in the Indian Army from south Kashmir’s Anantnag is all set to participate in the Paris Olympics after securing an Olympic quota for the Games scheduled this year.

Hailing from the Damhal village of Anantnag district, Amir Ahmad Bhat’s name resonates not just in military circles but also in the world of international shooting.

Speaking with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) over the phone from South Korea, Amir said, “It was in 2022 when I started the shooting career. When I joined the Indian army, initially, we were trained for basic firing (shooting), and my performance was consistently excellent. Then, I became a sniper and participated in many events.”

He said, “I felt confident in my shooting skills, so I decided to pursue it further. Inspired by shooters like Abhinav Bindra and Indian Army’s Vijay Kumar, among others, I chose shooting as my passion. It is an undiscovered sports category in Jammu and Kashmir.”

About his achievements, Bhat said, “In 2022, I made my mark on the national stage, clinching six medals in various national championships, including two gold, one silver, and three bronze.”

Expressing gratitude, he said, “My family, the Army, Sports Authority of India, and J&K Sports Council supported me throughout my journey. I received training under the Army Marksmanship Unit in MHOW, Indore. Later, I was selected for the Indian team and underwent training at various camps held in Delhi by the Sports Authority of India. The Indian Army hired my coach, who is based in South Korea and continues to support me.”

Amir proudly noted, “I am the first and only para shooter from Jammu & Kashmir to participate in the Paris Olympics this year. Additionally, among all three services (Army, Navy, & Air Force), I am the first medalist para shooter to participate in the Paris Olympics. It is a world record that I secured an Olympic berth in less than two years.”

Reflecting on his international appearances, Amir said he represented India six times internationally. In 2023, he competed in prestigious tournaments in countries like South Korea, Croatia, and Peru and it was in Lima, Peru, where he clinched a gold medal and secured an Olympic quota for the Paris Olympic Games scheduled for the following year.

“In total, I have earned 4 medals on the international platform too, including 1 Gold, 2 Silver, and 1 Bronze,” he added.

In the ongoing Shooting World Cup held in Changwon, South Korea, Amir earned a silver medal. Twenty-six teams from across the world participated in the tournament.

Amir’s achievements have garnered recognition, as he was nominated as the best outstanding sportsperson from Jammu and Kashmir last year by the Union Territory government. Additionally, he received two citations back-to-back from the Chief of the Indian Army Staff.

Regarding the scope of shooting as a sport, he said, “It has vast potential, even more than cricket, across the globe.”

“I aspire to represent my country, especially the Indian Army, on all stages. My goal is to win a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, an international multi-sport event scheduled to take place between August 30 and September 05, 2024, in France, with Paris as the main host city,” Bhat concluded—(KNO)