Ayushi Podder Biography

When shooters take the rifle and aim it at a target, the only thing that matters is their goal. The rest of the world fades away. The thought of winning a lot of money in their heads, their instincts will trigger. The question of whether their time of waking upearly, putting in additional hours of training and even sacrificing your favorite foods are worth it in this moment. It's at this point that 19-year-old Ayushi Podder is training for!

Each time Ayushi shoots, her goal is much more than the "Bullseye" shot. She is aiming at an Podium Finish! Each time she puts her finger on the trigger, she fires the bullet toward her goal of winning an Olympic medal hung on her neck, with the tri-colored flag flying over her.

Aayushi is a junior rifle shooter , and the newest young sensation in shooting from India to gain prominence in the sport , following Manu Bhaker and Gayathri Nthyanadam, Mehuli Ghosh and others. Born on the 23rd of October, 1999, Aayushi is from Sheoraphuli, Hooghly of West Bengal.

Aayushi's love and passion for shooting stem through her father Pankaj Podder, who himself was an ex- Indian shooter as well as an International Shooting Sport Federation ( ISSF) certified accredited coach.

Schooling Days And Sacrificed Dreams

Aayushi was completely dedicated to her the study of her years in the Techno Indian Public School. It was surprising that although she had been exposed sports at an early age, she displayed almost any desire to shoot.

At the age of seven, Aayushi was seven years old, she was able to create a portfolio with the hope of becoming an actress or model. She also learned to dance at a Classical Odisha style and participated in various school activities.

In the latter part of her life, Pankaj used to travel across states to participate in matches. Aayushi did not think that she would one day follow in his steps. As a scholar who excelled in school, Aayushi wished to study MBBS when she was a teenager.

Start of Shooting Career

Things changed shortly after her father asked her to try shooting. Pankaj confessed to his dream of watching his daughter follow in his steps. "When my child was only five year old, I had the idea that she could become the next shooter Olympic champion," the father of two says.

Soon after, she began to train to help her father. In just seven days of being able to hold her air rifle Ayushi had already been crowned a champion in the state!

"It is my very first time competing but I already was a winner!" she says, with excitement heard in her voice. Her first major win spurred Junior Podder to take up shooting.

With her father's strong support that was a guarantee, she could not look back. As the years passed, Aayushi immersed herself into the sport and discovered an exciting new sport to shed blood for. With her determination and drive in shooting her teachers and principal also began to show their support as she began her next adventure.

To excel in the field of shooting the ball, a player must have the most focused focus. For Ayushi her concentration and focus came easily. This is why she was able to get high scores. "I'm excellent at academics. Focus and concentration are essential and these two qualities assisted me shooting significantly."

Ayushi also understands the importance of perfection in both her sport and daily life. When she was in the beginning of her practicing, she's father advised her "Ayushi cannot shoot without the best sight picture". These words have been very helpful to her in her international career. They've been incorporated into her brain. "Perfection is important," she tells.

After winning the state championship, Ayushi won the pre-national championship for juniors in the youth category the month following. Within an entire calendar year Aayushi was able to secure her spot to participate at the Indian team camp. She was soon a part of the Asian air gun team, and within a year, she won her first international gold medal at the ISSF Junior World Cup 2016, Suhl, Germany.

The challenges faced by Indian athletes

The life of an athlete India isn't as simple. It's true that Ayushi isn't an exception. The young shooter has plenty of unremarkable stories to share from her travels to different locations to compete in tournaments. One of these stories occurred upon she returned from Asian Junior Championship in Doha, Qatar.

Ayushi as well as her teammates arrived at 5 am at New Delhi from a long and exhausting journey. This is when she learns that she will be competing in the 11 AM slot for competing in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions event at the All India Inter-University Championship. In the midst of sleep and hunger the young shooter competed in the competition and won the bronze medal.

After she spoke about the situation, Ayushi opened up about her feelings without regret. She doesn't blame her diet or sleep deprivation for her failure. She also does not blame ineffective planning of the organizers.

The moment is now, Aayushi laughs it off. But, this is another item on a lengthy list of organizational and structural issues that athletes have experienced and are facing within the system of sports in India.

At the time of the World Championship in Changwon, Korea, Ayushi had to be separated by eight days between her arrival to match day. It was not possible to train during these eight days because of the scheduling of other games. Additionally, her rifle was not in good condition. It was a terrible experience in the contest.

In addition Ayushi's father, as well as her coach were unable to accompany her due to financial problems. This is a common issue that athletes face in India in the present. The athletes are in financial straits to purchase equipment, travel for training, eat an adequate diet, and so numerous other things.

The balance between education and shooting

While juggling academics, shooting classes and traveling to attend events, Aayushi's grades at school was never a drop. After graduating from high school she decided to take the field of Humanities which allowed her to devote her time to the study of her subject and shooting.

At present, Ayushi Podder is pursuing her undergrad degree in Public Administration at Punjab University at the same at the same time as she trains and participates in competitions. But, Ayushi believes that it could not have been achieved without the support of her college and the management.

Ayushi is not able to use an attendance bar because of her participation in the Sports quota. She can practice all the time and is only required to sit for tests. If the competition or selections are in conflict with her examinations The college schedules specific dates to allow her to take the test.

A one-day in the life Ayushi Podder

Like her father, Ayushi travels a lot. Through each year Ayushi is a participant in at minimum ten competitions in her country. There are also trials for selection and two or three competitions internationally the course of a year. Apart from her travels to various competitions, she often goes to Delhi to practice in Dr Karni Shooting range. Dr Karni Shooting range, since it's the only shooting range that she can train at for the 50-meter categories.

Ayushi must also travel to Chandigarh to go to university frequently. Between her travels for training, competitions, and college, she's not capable of staying at her home.

A typical day for the teenager from West Bengal begins at 5.30 morning. She gets up, wakes up, and enjoys a gentle warming-up. In 7.30 am, Aayushi is on the breakfast table. After breakfast, she heads off to train.

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