Abhishek Verma striking balance between shooting and studies

Two-time ISSF World Cup gold medallist Abhishek Verma intends to sit for the Bar Examination in August and specialize on cyber crime.

2 minBy Utathya Nag
Abhishek Verma took to shooting on a serious note only when he was 28. Photo: ISSF

Indian shooter Abhishek Verma is excited about getting his law career back on track but has plans in place to ensure it doesn’t affect his shooting career.

The 10m Air Pistol specialist took up shooting seriously only from 2017 but his ascent has been rapid. Abhishek Verma has already established himself as one of India’s top shooters and is expected to be one of draws in the Tokyo Olympics next year.

Verma had put a stay on his legal studies to pursue his shooting dreams but with COVID-19 playing havoc with the shooting calendar, the pistol shooter has found quality time to brush up his law..

“Due to the pandemic, all our competitions got delayed or cancelled. To keep myself busy I am planning to join court where I can handle a few cases and my degree is also utilized,” he told the Olympic Channel during an exclusive chat.

The Chandigarh-based shooter recently acquired his provisional Enrolment Certificate from the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana and is gunning for a permanent license.

“I have also applied for the Bar Council license and I have my exam in the next month,” he revealed.

Rationing his time

While starting law practice comes across as a considerable responsibility, Verma is confident it won’t affect his shooting in any way.

“As the Olympics gets closer in 2021, I will concentrate more on my shooting and keep my court work aside.

“I will spend more time in my practice sessions and concentrate more on my game. Once the Olympics are over, I will again resume my court work,” Verma said.

Verma, a 2018 Asian Games bronze medallist, also holds a B Tech degree in Computer Science Engineering. He wants to specialize in Cyber Crime.

“Given my academic background, I think I am cut out for it,” said Verma.