Aanum Grewal 

Hometown: Edmonton, AB

Home Club/Range: ASRA

Disciplines: Women's 10m Air Rifle

Started Shooting: In 2019, during Aanum’s two years in India, she was attending extra math classes, and right underneath the building was a small shooting range. One day, out of curiosity, Aanum decided to try shooting just for fun, and from that very moment, she was hooked. Something about the precision and focus of the sport immediately drew her in. Within weeks, she found herself dedicating 4 to 5 hours a day to practice, training relentlessly day and night. In under five months—right before COVID hit and Aanum was set to return to Canada—she pushed herself to compete in a major event, the nationals. It was an incredible experience, and looking back, she’s proud of how quickly she immersed herself into the sport and grew as a shooter.

Highlights: 613.4 at Nationals in India after just 5 months of getting into the sport

Advice for newcomers to the sport: Don’t overthink it. Shooting is a very mental sport, and if you’re standing there constantly thinking—whether it’s good or bad—it can throw off your shots. Instead, focus on being natural. Develop a strong position, create a consistent routine, and trust yourself. Bring your shot down, take a deep breath, and relax. When it feels right—when your gut instinct tells you the moment is perfect—take the shot. Trusting your process and staying calm will make all the difference.

Best advice received: You can’t control any shot you’ve already taken, and you can’t control any shot you’re going to take. The only thing you can control is the shot in your barrel right now. Treat every shot as if it’s a match in itself, and don’t let your mind drift to the score . Stay present, stay focused, and put all your energy into the shot in front of you. That’s where your power lies.

Favourite Memory: The first time I attended Nationals. I remember feeling so overwhelmed, like I didn’t belong there. Everyone around me had been training for years, they had the latest equipment, and I was just a beginner with very little experience. But when I stepped into my lane, something shifted. I felt so relaxed, almost like the outside pressure didn’t matter anymore. There was music playing in the background, and I found myself just vibing with it, completely in the zone. I took each shot with calm focus, and to my surprise, my score was better than it had ever been. That day taught me a valuable lesson: when you believe in yourself and stay confident, you’re never too far behind. You become the best version of yourself when you trust in your abilities.

Hobbies: Listening to music and going to concerts

Fun Fact: Aanum used to compete as a swimmer before she got into shooting.