Multidimensional sportsperson and entrepreneur, Himanshi Verma, compound archer and former international rifle shooter has been balancing sports, business and academics. Driven by resilience, a comeback mindset and discipline rooted in yoga philosophy, she has found her niche.

Multifaceted Himanshi Verma is building her identity across multiple dimensions—sports, academics, and business—while staying deeply connected to her core passion for sports.

She is currently focused on Compound Archery, an event performed at a distance of 50 meters, and has already represented at the state level last year. At present, she is preparing herself for national-level competitions with clear intent and consistent effort.

Alongside her sporting career, Himanshi Verma runs her own clothing business in Indore and is also pursuing a Master’s Degree in Yoga. This combination reflects a lifestyle built on discipline, self-growth, and continuous learning, where she actively balances entrepreneurship, academics, and sports together.

Himanshi Verma’s current interest in archery came after a significant shift in her sporting path. Earlier, she was deeply involved in Rifle Shooting, where she had already achieved notable milestones such as qualifying for the nationals, appearing in international trials, and even participating in an international event. However, post-COVID health issues forced her to step away from the sport, leading to a phase of demotivation where she continued her job but remained disconnected from sports.

Her association with sports has evolved continuously over time. She began with Cricket in her early years, then moved to Badminton, transitioned into Rifle Shooting, and is now dedicated to Archery. Each transition reflects her adaptability and sustained commitment toward sports as a central part of her life.

After completing her studies, she moved into a job, but she clearly felt that it was not something she truly enjoyed. Somewhere, her childhood aspiration of building a life in sports remained active, and that inner pull gradually became stronger. This led her to take up rifle shooting. Initially, she did not consider it as a career option, but as she started progressing and receiving encouragement from her coaches, she began to see a future in it. Trusting that belief, she made a bold decision to leave her job and fully pursue rifle shooting.

A major turning point in her life came through her sister. Understanding her childhood aspiration of building a life in sports, her sister motivated her to return to the field. It was this consistent encouragement that brought her into archery. Even today, she considers her sister as her strongest support system, someone who does not allow her to give up even during difficult phases.

Himanshi Verma’s academic journey has been equally consistent and has been rooted in Indore. She completed her schooling in the city, followed by B.Tech and then MBA from Institute of Management Studies (IMS) Indore, where she also secured a Gold Medal in Badminton. She further pursued MA in Women Studies and is currently continuing her MA in Yoga, reflecting her commitment toward both intellectual and physical development.

Her academic path began with Engineering, after which she dedicated a full year to preparing for MBA and successfully cleared IMS. During her MBA phase, she continued to stay connected with sports, particularly badminton, where she achieved both silver and gold medals. This phase reflects her ability to balance academics and sports simultaneously without compromising on performance.

When it comes to her inspirations, she says she looks up to Abhinav Bindra, whose persistence and determination led him to an Olympic Gold despite multiple challenges. She also draws inspiration from Abhishek Verma, a Compound Archery player who has consistently performed at the international level, including World Cup events, and she hopes to see him bring further recognition to the country.

Her motivation is shaped not only by people but also by experiences and philosophy. She finds strong inspiration in the movie “Lakshya,” which helps her regain calmness whenever she feels overwhelmed in sports. The song “कर हर मैदान फ़तेह” also plays a significant role in keeping her motivated and focused.

Along with this, her connection with yoga has led her toward reading the Bhagavad Gita, which she considers a powerful guide for both life and sports. The principle “योगः कर्मसु कौशलम्” resonates deeply with her, as it teaches focusing on action without attachment to results. This mindset helps her stay mentally strong and consistent in competitive situations.

Coming to challenges, she shares that her journey in rifle shooting was filled with challenges from the beginning. At that time, Indore had only one club, and the lack of qualified coaches became a major hurdle since her goal was to reach the national level. Despite this, she continued pushing herself. During her pre-national phase, she suffered from typhoid, yet she still managed to qualify. For further preparation, she had to travel daily to Mhow, which added another layer of difficulty.

Her transition to archery was equally challenging. Initially, there were no proper archery facilities in Indore, and she had to travel to Simrol for practice at Eklavya Archery Academy. She waited nearly a year for better accessibility and training opportunities. When the opportunity finally came, she made another bold decision—she left her job once again and got fully committed to archery.

Even after overcoming these challenges and qualifying for the nationals, the lack of advanced coaching facilities in Indore affected her long-term progress. Eventually, COVID and the health issues that followed forced her to leave rifle shooting, leading to a major setback and emotional disconnect from sports.

At the same time, she continued managing her clothing business, making her routine highly demanding. Balancing business and sports requires constant discipline, effort, and time management, which often becomes challenging.

Despite this, she believes that everyone needs something in life that keeps them internally driven. For her, archery serves that purpose. It not only motivates her but also helps her reconnect with herself. She considers herself fortunate to still be able to pursue this sport and values it as an important part of her life.

Her growth in rifle shooting was significant. She competed at the state level, qualified for pre-nationals and nationals, and eventually reached the international level, where she also participated in an international event. This phase marked a strong peak in her sporting performance. However, due to an incident, she had to step away from rifle shooting, which forced her to return to a job once again, even though it was not her preferred path.

Despite this setback, her connection with sports did not fade. She once again made a decisive move, left her job, and shifted her focus to archery. Alongside this, she also started managing her own clothing business, creating a demanding balance between sports and entrepreneurship. Even in archery, she has already competed at the state level and is currently preparing for national-level competitions. She expresses a clear intent to continue moving forward and achieve something meaningful in this field.

For those who want to enter the field of Archery, she describes it as a highly beneficial sport that enhances concentration, similar to rifle shooting. At the same time, she acknowledges that it is physically demanding, requiring consistent strength training, proper body balance, and discipline. She emphasizes that regular gym training and muscle conditioning are essential, and following all precautions given by coaches is necessary to avoid injuries and perform effectively.

Archer & Entrepreneur Himanshi Verma’s message to people is simple yet practical. No matter whether someone is engaged in a job or business, it is important to take out at least one to two hours daily for something personal—whether it is sports, exercise, or any hobby. According to her, regular physical activity plays a crucial role in maintaining both mental and physical well-being, helping individuals feel better, more focused, and more balanced in their daily lives.