FROM being a Bharatnatyam-loving kid to lifting rifle and shooting the target with precision, the journey of city’s rifle shooter Ananya Naidu, a national champion, is full of determination, transformation, and immense inner strength. Ananya, 26, recently made her international debut at the prestegious ISSF World Cup Rifle leg held in Munich, Germany earning admiration for her poise, grit, and maturity under pressure. Competing in elite 10-metre Air Rifle Women’s event, Ananya scored 632.4 points, falling short of the 636 finals cut-off. The Munich World Cup done and dusted, her next target now is Asian Championships in Kazakhstan starting August 14 and the 2026 Los Angeles Olympics. Despite the razor-thin margin, her performance reflected a strong debut against a world-class field that included Olympic medallists and World No 1s.

 

“This was my first World Cup, and I had hope for a medal. But I didn’t allow that hope to turn into pressure. I knew it was important to stay focused on my process,” Ananya told ‘The Hitavada’ after returning from Munich. Ranked third in national rankings, Ananya earned her place in the Indian squad based on her consistent scores across four national trials and one national championship. “This has been a long journey. I started shooting in 2016, and eight years later, becoming national champion was a surreal moment. That title gave me the confidence to believe I was ready for the international stage,” she said. Training under her role model Anjali Bhagwat at Anjali Bhagwat Shooting Academy in Pune, Ananya follows a rigorous daily schedule — from technical drills to sports science recovery and mental conditioning. “Meeting Anjali ma’am changed my career,” she added. The Munich World Cup was filled with little triumphs for Ananya. She opened with a 106.7 series (first 10 shots of a 60 shot match), a motivating start amidst personal and technical adversity. “I wasn’t fully fit.

 

I had been recently hospitalised. Also, my rifle had a trigger issue that caused a difficult recoil. Keeping the rifle steady became hard,” she explained. But her ability to stay calm and deliver under those circumstances was commendable. “I gave the same performance I would in India. I’d rate my shooting 8 out of 10. There were a few moments I could’ve executed better, but considering what I faced—this was my best.” Ananya also praised the support structure that India provided in Munich. “Apart from Italy and China, we were the only ones with a full team of 2-3 psychologists, 2 physiotherapists, high-performance trainers and specialists. It made a huge difference,” she said. Despite narrowly missing the finals, Ananya’s showing in Munich adds weight to her growing reputation. She was among the top 50 finishers in a field stacked with experience and Olympic pedigree.

 

Her performance proved she belongs. With her eyes now set on the Asian Championships in Kazakhstan starting August 14, and the 2026 Los Angeles Olympics on the distant horizon, Ananya is back at work, refining her process. “My mother (Sharda) is my biggest inspiration. She encouraged me to try shooting, and that changed everything,” said Ananya, who lost her father in 2014. For Ananya, the journey has just begun — and Munich was a powerful first chapter.