From an accidental shooter to representing India
Kedarling Balakrishna Uchaganve will represent India in shooting at Asian Games 2026. When Kedarling Balakrishna Uchaganve joined the Indian Army in 2018, he had no grand sporting ambition. Like many youngsters from his village in Karnataka, his immediate goal was simple — to secure a…
Like many youngsters from his village in Karnataka, his immediate goal was simple — to secure a job, support his family and serve the country. And while the Asian Games will mark the biggest chapter of his journey so far, Kedarling already has his.
Coming from a small village in Karnataka, Kedarling grew up in a family whose livelihood is rooted in agriculture. His parents continue to work in farming, while he grew up in a joint family with his siblings, grandparents and extended family.
What Happened
His introduction to shooting was almost accidental. Sporting ambitions were not necessarily part of his early life.
Kedarling Balakrishna Uchaganve will represent India in shooting at Asian Games 2026.
When Kedarling Balakrishna Uchaganve joined the Indian Army in 2018, he had no grand sporting ambition.
Today, the 27-year-old Naib Subedar of the 27 Madras Regiment is preparing to represent India at the Asian Games 2026, having discovered the sport only after joining the Army.
Key Details
As a youngster, he had participated in running events, including the 1500m at the district level, but never imagined that one day he would represent India on an international sporting stage. I did not know much about shooting before joining the Army.
When I joined the Army in 2018, I discovered that there was a shooting range and that talent was being identified.
That patience has taken him from a Karnataka village to the Army shooting range, from picking up a pistol for the first time in 2018 to competing at a senior World Cup in 2022.
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Why It Matters
I had only heard the name of Abhinav Bindra during school or college because it would come up in general knowledge. The first time he picked up a pistol was during the Army’s selection process.
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If I perform well, everything will happen automatically — the country’s name, my village’s name and the Army’s name.
What Reports Say
Coverage of the story so far points to:
Continued reporting by Livemint as more details emerge
