Shooter Abhishek Verma to get Arjuna Award
Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 8
In a proud moment for the region, Tokyo Olympics shooter Abhishek Verma will be conferred with the Arjuna Award on November 13.
He will receive the award from President Ram Nath Kovind during a specially organised function at Darbar Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
Abhishek, who is the son of Justice Ashok Kumar Verma of Punjab & Haryana High Court, is currently competing in the President’s Cup shooting championship in Wroclaw, Poland. He won a bronze medal in the men’s air pistol event with a score of 580 points.
Abhishek, who represented the country in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and finished 17th in the men’s 10m air pistol event after leading the qualifying event, will be awarded for his performance at the international and national level.
Though he started his shooting career at the age of 27, Abhishek has been able to make an impression in the shooting world with his grit and determination to succeed at the highest level.
Abhishek, who currently represents Haryana, is ranked third in the world (as of March 1, 2020).
He shot to limelight after winning the gold medal in the 10m pistol event at the 2019 Beijing ISSF World Cup where he surpassed 2008 Olympic champion Pang Wei and also humbled Oleh Omelchuck – the former world file holder in the 10m air pistol event.
Earlier, Abhishek had won his first international silver medal in the 10m air pistol event in the Changwon World Championships in 2018.
At the Asian Games, held in the same year, Abhishek won a bronze.
He also pocketed the bronze medal at the Delhi ISSF World Cup held in March this year.
The Haryana marksman is being pegged as the biggest medal hope for the Indian shooting team in future World Championships, Asian Games and the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Known for his calm demeanour, consistency and determination, the 31-year-old had decided to be his own coach and end up having a small indoor shooting facility at his Chandigarh-based residence.
He is the only shooter among 35 sportspersons to get the Arjuna Award this year.
