New Delhi, Aug. 24 -- Aakash Bhardwaj did not follow the conventional route of an international shooter. He had never picked up a pistol until the age of 21. Today, the marksman from Jaipur is set to represent India in the Men's 10m Air Pistol event at the upcoming 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Hailing from Niwaru Road on the outskirts of Jaipur, Aakash grew up in a modest household. His father worked long hours as a commercial driver on a monthly income of 10,000 rupees. Before turning to shooting, Aakash pursued athletics and rugby, winning a national bronze medal in rugby. Concerns over contact injuries prompted him to search for an individual sport where personal discipline decided the outcome, according to a press release...