For Bhavya Tripathi, shooting isn’t simply a sport, but the very building blocks of her life. In her own words, “Shooting is Me. I am Shooting. I don’t know who I would be without it”. It is perhaps this act of incorporating the sport into every aspect of her life which has paved the way for her tremendous success as a sportsperson.

Bhavya is an international-level trap shooter, who has been the Asian Champion in Individual Trap at the 15th Asian Shooting Championship in Korea. She is a national record holder, who has consistently represented India on the world stage, at world cups, championships, and Olympic qualifiers. She is a member of the Indian National Squad and a Khelo India Athlete, and has also represented Delhi University at the national level.

While shooting for Bhavya only started off as a recreational activity, her experiences as a sportsperson changed that. It was in 2022 at the Junior Shooting World Cup, when she received her first international medal, a silver, when she felt something ignite within her. Since then shooting decidedly transformed from an activity she didn’t enjoy as a child, to one she can’t imagine her life without.

The life of a sportsperson demands intensity, discipline and hard work. While it is incredibly challenging to manage her hectic life, it is in her family’s support, the ability to represent her nation, and her drive to succeed which keep Bhavya going despite the myriad of challenges which come her way. She also greatly values the critical support provided to her by Khelo India, and their personnel of coaches, physiotherapists, nutritionists, and others. 

Moreover, being a female sportsperson comes with its own set of challenges, not only as criticism and mockery, but also as being perceived to be lesser than male sportspeople. According to Bhavya, her time at school and Lady Shri Ram College, has instilled in her the belief that “being a woman doesn’t bring you down, it uplifts you.” As a sportsperson, she practices this belief everyday, and makes it a point to speak her mind, and openly ask questions.

After an exceptional career as a junior, Bhavya is readily eyeing the future. While she is currently training for the All India Inter University Games, and the subsequent Junior World Cup in Cairo, this will be her last year of her junior career. Afterwards, she hopes to transition to a senior team, and finally realise any sportsperson’s ultimate dream – representing India at the Olympic Games and winning an Olympic medal. 

Bhavya discusses even an undeniably daunting task such as qualifying for the Olympics with a sense of ease. Her goals outside of her career – learning how to fly a plane, ride a horse, surf, and ski – carry a similar undercurrent of adventure and tenacity which characterise her as a sportsperson. There’s no arguing when she boldly declares, “I’m made for this.”

Profiled by: Mangalya Singh