How A Film Role Inspired Nana Patekar To Win Multiple National Shooting Medals

Indian cinema lost one of its pioneers with Nana Patekar dying after suffering a cardiac arrest.© X (Twitter)

Indian cinema lost one of its pioneers with veteran actor Nana Patekar dying after suffering a cardiac arrest at his residence in Goa during the early hours of Thursday. Apart from being a prominent face in Hindi and Marathi cinema, Patekar will also be fondly remembered for his profound passion for sports. Patekar was an ardent cricket fan and had revealed in the past that he was an off-spinner who used to bowl in the nets to batters at Mumbai's iconic Shivaji Park.

Patekar also had a lifelong passion for competitive shooting and even competed at the National Shooting Championship multiple times. What started as training for one of his films soon turned into a lifelong passion for rifle shooting for Patekar.

In 2004, he won a silver medal in the 300m big-bore event at the 48th National Shooting Championships held at the BSF's Reoti Range in Indore. Three years later, he won a team bronze medal for Maharashtra, scoring 549/600 and finishing 12th overall in the individual standings.

His achievements in shooting earned him the title of 'Renowned Shot', which entitled him to import a rifle duty-free. Age could not deter Patekar from pursuing his passion for competitive shooting, as he continued to participate in national and state-level competitions well into his 60s.

In 2011, Patekar recalled that his shooting journey started in his 40s.

"I used to be the chief guest in all the prize distribution ceremonies of shooting competitions. I tried my hand at a lot of guns, and my aim improved. I started hitting tiny targets like a mineral bottle caps," Patekar had told the Times of India (TOI).

Patekar's journey into shooting began during preparations for his 1991 film Prahaar, for which he underwent training with the Indian Army.

His passion for the sport also gave him an opportunity to give back to the community. He supported aspiring rifle shooters by helping them meet the considerable costs of training, ammunition and equipment.

Patekar had also advocated for greater financial rewards for national-level shooters, believing such incentives would help athletes continue pursuing their passion and support their careers in the sport.

"I feel at the national level, shooters should get monetary rewards also, along with medals and a handshake. The young crop needs money to support their passion. Monetary reward will help them gain a lot of confidence," Patekar had said.

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