Anjali Bhagwat: Indian shooters have lost their Godfather

Dr Bhishmaraj Bam

India sharpshooter Anjali Bhagwat paid one of the richest tributes to renowned sports psychologist and former IGP, Dr Bhishmaraj Bam, who passed away at his home in Nashik yesterday, at the age of 79 following a massive heart attack. "Indian shooters have lost their Godfather today," said Bhagwat a former World No. 1 rifle shooter, who picked the gun seriously for the first time in 1988 at the Maharashtra Rifle Association (MRA) range in Worli under Dr Bam.

"I clearly remember that afternoon at the MRA. We were around five to six girls from the NCC, who simply went to MRA because we wanted to wear the shooting jackets. This was the first ever batch of female shooters - and it included Suma Shirur and Deepali Deshpande (who went on to become leading India shooters). We were fooling around, but Bam sir still saw some spark in us and encouraged us to take up the sport professionally. Suma, Deepali and I didn't look back thereafter," Bhagwat (47) told mid-day from her home in Pune.

(From left) India shooters Anjali Bhagwat, Suma Shirur and Deepali Deshpande are good friends and were all groomed by late sports psychologist Dr Bhishmaraj Bam at the MRA range in Worli

Bhagwat went on to win many laurels for the country including medals at ISSF World Cups and Commonwealth Games, among other achievements, but two prominent moments in her career stand out, and she credits Dr Bam for both.

"At the ISSF World Cup in Munich, Germany, I was very nervous. I didn't know whom to talk so I called Bam sir. I was anxious since I had reached the final and I had the chance of winning a medal. Bam sir calmed me down and gave me a few tips. I went on to win gold. In the same year, I won the Champion of Champions title at the National Championship at the Dr Karni Singh Range in Delhi, again thanks to some invaluable advice from Bam sir," recalled Anjali, who also credited the sports visionary and mental conditioning expert Bam for helping her procure her first rifle.

"To start of with, I didn't even have a gun. It was Bam sir who helped me get one from actor Nana Patekar (a national shooter). He also helped me get my first sponsorship. Bam sir would even shell out money time and again for our ammunition because most of us were from middle-class backgrounds and couldn't afford it. Interestingly, Bam sir's teachings weren't only for shooters. He also helped top badminton star Aparna Popat and cricketer Rahul Dravid among others."

Incidentally, Anjali received her last medal at the hands of Bam. "I won bronze at the Lakhsya Cup in Panvel two months ago. I was thrilled to receive it from Bam sir. This medal is now my most prized possession," Anjali concluded.