Ayushi Podder Biography

If shooters pull out the rifle and aim it and aim, all that matters is their goal. The rest of the world fades away. The thought of winning loads is etched in their heads, their instincts will trigger. If their years of waking early, working additional hours of training and even sacrificing your favorite foods were worth it is decided right now. It's at this point that 19-year-old Ayushi Podder is training for!

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

Aayushi is an aspiring junior rifle shooter and the most recent young sensation to shoot from India to make waves in the field, following Manu Bhaker and Gayathri nityanadam, Mehuli Ghosh and others. Born on the 23rd of October, 1999, Aayushi comes from Sheoraphuli, Hooghly of West Bengal.

Aayushi's love and passion for shooting stem through her father Pankaj Podder, who himself was an Indian shooter and International Shooting Sport Federation ( ISSF) licensed and qualified coach.

Schooling Days And Sacrificed Dreams

Aayushi was totally devoted to her the study of her years during her time at Techno Indian Public School. Unexpectedly, although she had been exposed sports at an early age, she showed very little or any desire to shoot.

As a child, Aayushi was seven years old, she completed a portfolio with the intention of becoming an actress or model. Aayushi also attended dance classes at a Classical Odisha style and participated in various school activities.

In this time of her life, Pankaj used to travel across the country to play in matches. Aayushi was not aware that she would one day follow in his path. A very good academic performer, Aayushi wished to study MBBS as a teenager.

Start of Shooting Career

Things changed shortly after her father urged her to try shooting. Pankaj confessed to his dream of watching his daughter follow in his steps. "When the daughter I had was only five year old, I was thinking I could make her an shot Olympic champion," Pankaj explains.

She began training to help her father. Within seven days of acquiring her air rifle Ayushi had already been a champion at the state level!

"It it was the first time I competed in a time competing which was also my first time being a winner!" she says, her excitement clearly evident in her voice. Her first big win inspired Junior Podder to take up shooting.

With her father's steady support that was a guarantee, she could not look back. As time passed by, Aayushi immersed herself into shooting and discovered an exciting new sport to shed blood for. As she demonstrated her determination and enthusiasm in shooting her school's principal and teachers also began to lend their support to her when she embarked on her new adventure.

However, to be successful in the shooting discipline the ball, a player must have the most focused focus. For Ayushi the concentration and focus came easily. This is why she was able to get excellent marks. "I'm excellent at academics. Concentration and focus are crucial and these two abilities have helped me shoot significantly."

Ayushi has also realized the importance of perfection both in sports and in everyday life. When she first started practicing, she's father advised herthat "Ayushi is the only one who can take a perfect sight image". These words have helped her tremendously on the international stage. They've been embedded in her brain. "Perfection is important," she tells.

After becoming the state champion, Ayushi won the pre-national championship for juniors in the youth category the next month. Within one calendar year Aayushi was able to secure her spot to participate at the Indian team camp. Soon after, she was selected for the Asian air gun team, and in the following year, she earned her first international gold medal at the ISSF Junior World Cup 2016, Suhl, Germany.

The challenges faced by Indian athletes

Achieving success as an athlete in India is not as simple as it sounds. It's true that Ayushi isn't an exception. The young shooter has plenty of forgotten stories to tell about her trips to various locations to compete in tournaments. One of them happened on she returned from Asian Junior Championship in Doha, Qatar.

Ayushi as well as her teammates arrived at 5 am on the outskirts of 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. With a lack of sleep and hunger the young shooter competed in the competition and won the bronze medal.

After she spoke about this situation, Ayushi opened up about the incident without any regret. She is not blaming her fatigue or sleep deprivation for her failure. Also, she does not blame ineffective planning of the organizers.

This morning, Aayushi laughs it off. This is an additional addition to the lengthy list of organizational and structural issues athletes have experienced and continue to face in the sport's ecosystem in India.

At the time of the World Championship in Changwon, Korea, Ayushi had to be separated by eight days from the time she arrived until match day. It was not possible to train for the entire eight days due to the scheduling of other events. Additionally, her rifle was older. This led to a bad experience at the event.

In addition Ayushi's father, as well as her coach were unable to accompany her on her travels because of budgetary problems. This is a common issue facing athletes in India in the present. They are faced with financial pressures to purchase equipment, travel for training, eat an adequate diet, and so many more.

Balance between education and shooting

While juggling academics, shooting lessons and traveling around the world to attend events, Aayushi's grades in school didn't drop. After graduating from high school she decided to pursue the field of Humanities and was able to take time to devote her time to the study of her subject and shooting.

Presently, Ayushi Podder is pursuing an undergraduate degree in Public Administration at Punjab University at the same as training and participating in competitions. But, Ayushi believes that it could not have been achieved without the help of her school 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 only attends to write examinations. If competitions or selections conflict with her tests 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. All through each year Ayushi takes part in at least ten national competitions. In addition, there are trials for selection and two or three competitions internationally the course of a year. In addition to her travels for different competitions, she often goes to Delhi to practice in Dr Karni Shooting range. Dr Karni Shooting range, because it's the only place that she can train at for the 50-meter categories.

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

A typical day for the youthful shooter in West Bengal begins at 5.30 morning. She gets up, wakes up and then has a quick warming-up. In 7.30 morning, Aayushi is on the breakfast table. After breakfast, she departs to train.

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