Former Indian Shooting Coach Faces Serious Allegations
Ankush Bhardwaj, a 35-year-old former international shooter turned coach with connections to the Indian national team, is now at the centre of a grave criminal investigation. The Faridabad police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against him based on allegations made by a minor shooter he was training. Bhardwaj has been booked under Section 6 of the POCSO Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act) for aggravated sexual assault and Section 351(2) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita for criminal intimidation.
In swift action following the allegations, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has suspended the athlete-turned-coach. The federation's secretary, Rajiv Bhatia, confirmed that a show-cause notice will also be issued to Bhardwaj. The complainant, a 16-year-old shooter, had been training under Bhardwaj since August 2025.
A Promising Career Marred by Past Controversy
Ankush Bhardwaj's journey in shooting began in 2005 at a National Cadet Corps camp in Ambala, where he hailed from a modest family. His talent was evident early on. Under the guidance of Subhash Rana, brother of pistol legend Jaspal Rana in Dehradun, Bhardwaj's career took off. His breakthrough came in 2008 when, as an 18-year-old, he won a gold medal in the 50m pistol event at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune. This victory positioned him as a bright prospect for the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.
However, his promising trajectory was abruptly halted just months before the 2010 Games. Bhardwaj received a suspension after failing a dope test during a junior international competition in Suhl, Germany. He had tested positive for beta blockers, substances considered performance-enhancing for shooters as they help steady the arm. Bhardwaj maintained that he had consumed the drug as medication for a headache.
After serving a two-year suspension, Bhardwaj returned to competition. He managed to secure a gold medal at the International Shooting Cup in Hannover, Germany, in 2017. Parallel to his athletic pursuits, he had already begun transitioning into coaching and entrepreneurship.
From Shooter to Entrepreneur and Now Accused
Bhardwaj, who is married to renowned Olympian and World Championship silver medallist shooter Anjum Moudgil, ventured into business with a focus on the sports community. In 2016, he launched the Shooters Cafe in Mohali, aimed at mentoring young talents. He later established the Salvo Shooters Arena in the same city.
His most ambitious project came last year with the launch of the Archon Fitness Club in Mohali, a venture he started with his wife. The club was promoted as a holistic training facility, featuring a shooting range, rehabilitation studio, fitness arena, pickleball court, and a bouldering wall. In a statement at the time, Bhardwaj emphasized the goal of providing athletes with world-class, comprehensive training and recovery support.
Now, these establishments are overshadowed by the serious allegations against their founder. According to police sources citing the FIR, the alleged incident occurred on December 16, after the minor shooter participated in a national competition at Delhi's Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range. The FIR accuses Bhardwaj of forcibly touching the minor inappropriately in a hotel room near the range, pressing her down on a bed, and committing sexual assault despite her resistance.
The case has sent shockwaves through the Indian shooting community, raising urgent questions about safeguarding mechanisms for young athletes under the mentorship of powerful coaches. The investigation by Faridabad police is ongoing.
