Anantjeet Singh, the 27-year-old skeet shooter from Jaipur, has been making waves in the world of shooting, driven by a philosophy that success breeds success. Fresh off his recent gold medal win at the Asian Shooting Championship in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, Naruka is setting his sights on an even bigger prize: an Olympic breakthrough.

Naruka's journey to the top has been marked by consistent improvement and a relentless pursuit of perfection. He secured India's first senior gold at the Asian Shooting Championship, demonstrating his near-flawless performance by shooting 57 out of a possible 60 in the final. This victory was particularly sweet, as he edged out Kuwait's Mansour Al-Rashidi, a former Asian Games champion, by a single point. It was a significant step up from the previous year where he took silver at the same competition.

Looking back, Naruka acknowledges the pivotal role of his five-day training with former national coach Ennio Falco in 2022. During that time, Falco helped him better understand his technique. This understanding allowed him to shoot more consistent scores, which ultimately led to his Asian Games performance.

Despite the challenges posed by windy and dusty conditions in Shymkent, Naruka's experience allowed him to focus on his technique. A ten-day training camp in Italy with national coach Riccardo Filippelli, alongside fellow shooters Raiza Dhillon and Gurjoat Singh Khangura, also proved beneficial. In fact, Naruka credits his current coach, Mr. Ricardo Filipelli, for the complete change in his technique since 2022. He also acknowledges his professional team who ensures he is at his best on the range.

While Naruka is steadily climbing the ranks, he remains grounded and focused on continuous improvement. He recognizes that even with mastery, there is always something new to learn and adapt to. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining composure and focus, even when facing distractions or unexpected challenges.

Naruka's performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he finished fourth in the mixed team event with Maheshwari Chauhan, serves as both a motivation and a learning experience. Missing the bronze medal by a single point was heartbreaking, but he is using that disappointment as fuel to propel him forward. He acknowledges that the Olympics taught him to trust himself and his process.

His recent bronze medal at the ISSF World Cup Final in New Delhi and his gold medal at the Asian Shooting Championship have solidified his position as one of India's leading shotgun shooters. He emphasizes that support from the government through schemes like Khelo India, SAI, and TOPS is helping shooters succeed globally. He also recognizes the impact he has had on aspiring shooters.

With the Shotgun World Championships in Athens, Greece, on the horizon (October 8-19), Naruka is determined to continue his upward trajectory. Although he admits that 2024 was taxing due to the Olympics and 2026 will be demanding due to the Asian Games, he feels ready and believes in his ability to beat the best. He emphasizes the importance of taking lessons from each competition and applying them to the next.