From accidental shooter to Asiad-bound athlete: Kedarling’s incredible journey
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 job, support his family and serve the country. Shooting was nowhere on his radar.
Today, the 27-year-old Naib Subedar of the 27 Madras Regiment is preparing to represent India at the Asian Games, having discovered the sport only after joining the Army. And while the Asian Games will mark the biggest chapter of his journey so far, Kedarling already has his eyes on an even bigger dream — winning an Olympic medal at Los Angeles. 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.
Sporting ambitions were not necessarily part of his early life. 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. His introduction to shooting was almost accidental.
“I did not know much about shooting before joining the Army. I had only heard the name of Abhinav Bindra during school or college because it would come up in general knowledge. When I joined the Army in 2018, I discovered that there was a shooting range and that talent was being identified. I was selected, and that was when I really came to know about shooting,” Kedarling recalled. The first time he picked up a pistol was during Army’s selection process. Initially, there was little understanding of where the sport could take him. But exposure to competitions, senior shooters, coaches and motivational programmes changed his perspective.
