Anish Bhanwala (born 26 September 2002) is an Indian pistol shooter. He has been a member of the Indian shooting team since 2017, representing the country at the Olympics, World Championships, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, South Asian Games, as well as multiple World Cups at both senior and junior levels.
Bhanwala was born in village Kashandi in Sonipat and brought up in Karnal, Haryana. [2] He attended high school at St. Theresa's Convent Sr. Sec. School. [3] His passion for shooting came while participating in modern pentathlon events. He participated in Modern Pentathlon World championship in Cyprus when he was just 11 years old. His next Modern Pentathlon competition was UIPM Asian Oceanic (Olympic Qualification Competition) Championship in Beijing, China.
He had the full support of his parents from the just beginning of his sports life. His father borrowed a pistol for him to shoot at a range. Anish's elder sister Muskan Bhanwala is also an International Medalist. She won an individual Gold and a team Gold medal in ISSF Junior World Cup, Sydney, 2018. She has represented India at various Senior World Cups, Junior World Cups and Junior World Championships winning Bronze in ISSF JR World Championship, Suhl, Germany. She has won numerous medals in National Shooting Championships.
He represented the country at the U-12 Modern Pentathlon World Championships in 2013 and Asian Modern Pentathlon Championships in 2015. Shooting was his favourite among the pentathlon's five sports. [4]
Anish along with his family moved to New Delhi in 2017 to have the best training facilities available at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range. [5]
In ISSF Junior World Championship 2017, Suhl, Anish won two gold, two silver, and one bronze. In 25m Standard Pistol event Anish created a New World Record by shooting 579/600 score. [6]
In 2017 Commonwealth Shooting Championships, Brisbane, Australia, he won silver in 25m Rapid Fire Men. [7] [8] This was Anish's first senior international competition as a member of Indian squad.
In the Commonwealth Games 2018 at the age of 15 Anish won a gold medal for India and became the youngest Indian to win a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games. [9] He set a new Commonwealth Games final record of 30 hits in the finals.
In ISSF Junior World Cup 2018, Sydney he won one individual gold and one team silver in 25m Rapid Fire Junior Men. [10] This was the first time in history that two siblings won individual Gold in any ISSF series. This was the competition where Anish's sister Muskan too won Gold medals. [11]
In ISSF Junior World Cup 2019, Germany, he again won gold in the men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol. [12]
Anish made his First ISSF Senior's achievement in 2019 in the ISSF World Cup, New Delhi when he shot India's new National Record score of 588/600 in the qualification round and secured the 5th rank in the Finals. In the 65th National Shooting Championship, Bhopal he broke his own previous National record to set a new National record score of 590/600. In the ISSF World Cup, Cairo 2023 Anish won an individual bronze medal.
Anish won two bronze medals in the Asian Shooting Championship, Changwon 2023 and along with the medals he secured the much awaited Olympic Quota in the Rapid Fire Pistol event for India. India won this Olympic quota in the Rapid Fire Pistol event after a long period of 11 years.
Anish Bhanwala's personal Coach is DSP Harpreet Singh, 2010 Commonwealth Games Individual and Team Gold Medalist. Anish was inspired by DSP Harpreet Singh when the police officer won 02 gold medals and a silver Medal in 2010 Commonwealth games and 2014 Commonwealth Games, Glasgow respectively. Harpreet has been Anish's mentor since 2015 when they first met in a National Championship and since then he has been the force behind his performance.
National Child Award in Sports category. [13]
Mahindra Scorpio TOISA 2018 award for Emerging Player of The Year. [14]
Yono SBI 20 Under 20 Sports Achiever award.
TOISA 2020 award for Emerging Player of The Year.
