Meet Maheshwari Chauhan, Skeet Shooter Representing India At Olympics

Maheshwari Chauhan is representing India in women's skeet shooting at the Paris Olympics 2024. She finished 14th in the women's individual on August 4. In the mixed team event with Anantjeet Singh Naruka, she secured fourth place, narrowly missing a bronze medal to the People's Republic of China. The Indian team scored 43, missing the medal by just one point.

Who Is Maheshwari Chauhan?

Maheshwari Chauhan hails from Siana, Jalore district, Rajasthan. She pursued her studies at Lady Shri Ram College in Delhi. Supported by the sports NGO Olympic Gold Quest, Chauhan's journey in shooting began as a fun activity shared with her grandfather Ganpat Singh, father Pradeep Singh, and brother Daksheshwar Singh at their family's private shooting range in Siana. In 2023, she married hotelier Adhiraj Singh.

What an incredibly close match to decide the Bronze Medal in the Skeet Mixed Team event. A 1 point difference meaning our 🇮🇳 duo of Anant Jeet Singh Naruka and Maheshwari Chauhan finish 4th. Spirited performance 👏🏽👏🏽#JeetKiAur | #Cheer4Bharat pic.twitter.com/cLCd22Spw7

— Team India (@WeAreTeamIndia) August 5, 2024

Pioneering Career

Chauhan made history as the first Indian woman to win an individual medal in women’s skeet at an international event. Trained by national coach Vikram Singh Chopra, Chauhan’s notable achievements include securing a bronze medal at the 7th Asian Championship Shotgun in Astana, Kazakhstan. This event saw India clinching two golds, one silver, and three bronze medals. Chauhan also led her team to a silver medal alongside Rashmi Rathore and Saniya Shaikh, narrowly missing gold to China.

A Record-Breaking Shooting Contingent

India’s 21-member shooting team for the Paris Olympics is the largest ever, aiming to end a 12-year medal drought in the sport. The team comprises mainly debutants, free from the pressures of past performances, ready to tackle the ultimate test of their careers. With four Olympic shooting medals to its name, India is determined to add more to its tally this year.

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) selected the squad based on current form rather than pedigree, emphasizing performance in recent trials. This approach saw the emergence of athletes like Sandeep Singh, who outperformed 2022 world champion Rudranksh Patil, despite Patil's earlier quota win..