A dedicated 400 meters hurdles athlete, Nikhil Bhardwaj has represented the Indian Navy and Punjab at the national level, securing multiple medals. Despite facing significant challenges, including injuries and adapting to new environments, Nikhil's perseverance has led him to win several gold and bronze medals. Currently preparing for the Asian and Commonwealth Games, he continues to inspire future athletes by advocating hard work, unity, and utilizing opportunities.

Nikhil Bhardwaj is a professional athlete from Mohali, Punjab, specializing in the 400 meters hurdles.

His journey in sports began in 2012, and in 2017, he joined the Indian Navy. Since then, Nikhil Bhardwaj has represented the Navy and Punjab at the national level, winning numerous medals and becoming an International Champion twice.

Bhardwaj secured a bronze and a gold medal in the Open Nationals. He also earned a silver medal in the junior category at the national level in 2015. His first gold medal came in 2014 during the North Zone Juniors Championship in Lucknow, where he excelled in the hurdles event, along with a silver medal in the relay race while representing the Punjab team. In the following competition, he won another gold medal.

Additionally, his performance in an inter-university competition, where he earned a bronze medal, ultimately led to his enrollment in the Indian Navy. In 2023, he won in the Open Nationals Championship and also won a silver medal in Goa nationals. His other medals include winning a silver medal in the Federation Cup, a gold medal in an inter-state competition held in Panchkula, a bronze medal in Bangalore etc.

However, Bhardwaj’s achievements did not come without challenges. His postings in the navy required him to move from the North to the South, demanding a significant lifestyle adjustment. Struggling to adapt, he faced an even greater hurdle in 2018 when he suffered an injury. Despite this setback, a ray of hope emerged when he won a bronze medal at a defense meet, which earned him a promotion to Chief Petty Officer. Though pleased with this accomplishment, he was disheartened by missing out on a national-level medal, finishing in 4th place by just 0.20 seconds.

From 2018 to 2023, he didn’t win any medals, but he remained dedicated to training regularly. Just as he was preparing for the nationals, he suffered an eye injury. Undeterred, he wore eye protection during the race, which not only shielded him but also eliminated technical errors. This adjustment helped him win his first gold medal in the seniors category. Since then, he continues to wear eye protection during races, which helps him stay focused and improve his performance.

Nikhil Bhardwaj trains under Mukesh Pathak, also from the Indian Navy, who oversees his nutrition and physiotherapy needs. Initially, his former coach Vijay enrolled him in 2017, but after Vijay passed away, Mukesh Pathak took over his training. Nikhil Bhardwaj credits his coach for the success he has achieved so far. He also trained professionally in Bhubaneswar for two years.

Bhardwaj’s passion for athletics developed during his school days at Mount Carmel School, where he participated in sports at a basic level. He had little understanding of professional sports training at the time but earned many medals in inter-school competitions. His father, a retired navy officer and sports enthusiast, was proud of his son's pursuit of athletics and fully supported him. After his 10th grade, Nikhil's father sent him to Patiala to begin his professional sports training. On April 12, 2012, Nikhil first saw the 400 meters synthetic track, marking the start of his serious journey in hurdles, where he always excelled. He later met a coach from the National Institute of Sports who further shaped his career.

Reflecting on his early days, Nikhil Bhardwaj shares that after studying at Mount Carmel, he completed his senior secondary education at Budha Dal Public School in Patiala. Nikhil pursued his college education in Patiala itself. His parents always encouraged him for sports and his studies were not a major concern for him. However, Bhardwaj had an interest in Psychology and so he pursued his BA in the subject. But later on, he dropped his studies since he joined the Indian Navy in 2017.

Bhardwaj never dreamt of joining the Indian Navy as such, but it was only through his participation in sports that he got to know the opportunities available for him. He was guided by his coach about various government exams like for the Railways, the ONGC, the Police, and Defense services. His father pushed him to fill a form for the defense services to which he was reluctant since his father was also in the same field.

At that time in 2017, Nikhil was preparing for the All-India Inter University Games in which he won a bronze medal. He was advised by someone to join the Indian Navy. Witnessing his performance, they invited him for the trials. But as he came third in the finals, he did not appear for the trials.  Later he was encouraged by his father to at least appear for the trials, and his trial was rescheduled. After successful completion of his trials, Nikhil was enrolled in the Indian Navy as a 400 meters hurdle specialist.

When asked about his role models, Bhardwaj shares that when he entered the world of sports and athletics, he was not aware about the players, and only used to watch a little bit of cricket. His only goal was to perform well and stand up to the expectations of his coach. Seeing his juniors perform also serves as a motivation for him. Nikhil also draws inspiration from his competitors and  Neeraj Chopra, the Olympic Gold Medal winner. He strongly believes that your thoughts are your best inspiration.

Nikhil Bhardwaj is inspired by his self-written quote, “Why settle for silver if you are practicing for gold?” He wrote this statement when once he was fighting for a gold medal but was awarded with a silver instead. During his final trials for the Indian squad for the Olympics, Nikhil read a quote, “Imagine losing in front of your father” which motivated him to win as his parents were witnessing his race live for the very first time.

Advising future athletes, Nikhil Bhardwaj highlights the broad opportunities available through various competitions at all levels. He encourages aspiring sportspersons to first identify their talents and choose the event they want to specialize in, whether it be races ranging from 100 meters to 42 kilometers, or different types of throws, jumps, and hurdles.

Nikhil Bhardwaj advises budding athletes to observe performances on the ground and practice as much as possible. He emphasizes that hard work is essential and that coaches will eventually recognize your potential for events. Nikhil adds that sports are all about physical strength and concentration, and building physical strength takes time. Endurance, speed, height, and movement improve gradually. He advises beginners to prioritize hard work, as without it, you cannot achieve anything.

Bhardwaj highlights how government sponsorships support sportspersons, but private sponsors often fail to work at the grassroots level, focusing more on established achievers instead. He laments that actual talent is getting overshadowed by politics in sports. He hopes that private sponsors will start paying more attention to these underlying issues.

“If you work hard, your destiny will support you," says Nikhil, emphasizing that one cannot rely solely on destiny; hard work is essential to achieving life goals. He advises the youth to stay focused and not be discouraged by constant news of unemployment on social media. Nikhil Bhardwaj highlights that increasing competition is natural with a growing population, but he points out that startups are creating fresh opportunities for young people.

He also underscores the scope for sports personalities in defense jobs until the age of 25, as well as in sectors like Income Tax, Railways, ONGC, Customs, Banks, and Police Departments, all of which offer positions under the sports quota. However, he warns that if athletes focus solely on jobs, their sports performance will suffer.

Nikhil Bhardwaj’s message for Indian citizens is: "Step out of the virtual world of social media and experience real-life scenarios. Today, people are divided due to political and religious differences. Let’s rise above hatred and unite for peace."

Nikhil Bhardwaj is currently preparing for the upcoming Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games. He is open to collaborations and sponsorships.