Rising star Tanvi, 15, set to represent Australia at Junior Shooting World Cup

Teenager Tanvi Lathwal is chasing a dream — to become the first person of Indian origin to win an Olympic shooting competition for Australia. Next month, she will contest the sport's Junior World Cup in Germany.

Tanvi, 15, recently named as an Australian team member for the

International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF)

Junior World Cup 2025, was born in Sydney.

Shooting Australia told SBS Hindi that Tanvi is the only person of Indian origin to have been selected for an Australian World Cup Team in the past two Olympic cycles — that is, over the last eight years.

Her father was on an overseas work assignment when she was born in 2009, but in 2015, her family decided to move back to their hometown in Haryana, India.

“We moved back because we wanted our children to know and understand Indian culture and develop strong connections with their roots,” Tanvi's father, Harveer Singh, told SBS Hindi.

In India, Tanvi first took up badminton but later moved to shooting after an ankle injury.

"Sports play a vital role in a child's development, so we made sure both our kids were involved in some kind of sport," he said.

Harveer Singh, father of Tanvi Lathwal. Credit: Supplied by Harveer Singh

"After her (Tanvi) injury, we decided to guide her towards a sport that required more mental focus and concentration rather than physical exertion. After trying archery and a few other sports, she eventually found her calling in shooting," Singh said.

Tanvi has been selected for the Australian shooting team in the 10-metre air pistol event, marking a significant milestone in her young career.

"We're incredibly proud of her, but ultimately, her goal is to reach the Olympics, and she would be working towards that," he added.

Breaking barriers in sport

During the COVID-19 lockdown, Tanvi began training under Indian coach Ankur Arya, and in 2022, she won a gold medal at the national school level in the eastern Indian city of Ranchi.

She also competed in the

National Rifle Association of India (NRAI)

selection trials, but it was discovered that her Australian passport might prevent her from officially joining the Indian team.

Tanvi Lathwal is competing in the 10m air pistol category at the ISSF World Cup this year. Credit: Supplied by Harveer Singh

"When we realised that her Australian passport could be a hurdle, we made the decision to return to Australia and chase the dream of competing at the national level and, eventually, on the global stage," he said.

In July 2023, the Lathwals returned to Sydney to support Tanvi in pursuing her sporting journey.

"We enrolled her in a local shooting club in Sydney, and she soon began participating in many competitions here. She won gold at the New South Wales State Championships in 2023 and many other competitions," Singh said.

Now, she’s focused on furthering her career in the sport she loves, drawing inspiration from her idol, Indian shooter Manu Bhaker.

"Parenting comes with many challenges, but when you see your child succeed, those challenges start to feel rewarding," Singh shared.

"Our goal is to give her all the support she needs and help her reach the Olympics. That’s now the shared dream for both us [parents] and Tanvi. It would be a historic moment to see someone of Indian origin represent the Australian shooting team for the first time on the Olympic stage," he added.

Shooting Australia is the nation's peak body for target shooting sports. (Representative image) Credit: PR IMAGE/AAP

Adam Sachs, Shooting Australia's Chief Executive Officer, said, "Tanvi is at the beginning of her sporting career, and being selected to the Australian Team to compete in Suhl will be a stepping stone to future competition and development opportunities for a young aspiring athlete."

Find our podcasts here at

SBS Hindi Podcast Collection

. You can also tune in to

SBS Hindi 

at 5 pm on

SBS South Asian 

on digital radio, on channel 305 on your television, via the

SBS Audio app 

or stream from

our website.