Jonathan Gavin Antony had only one wish after becoming the youngest shooting champion at the National Games 2025.
He wanted to watch his favorite anime shows, Naruto, Baki Hanma, and Jujutsu Kaisen, requesting the same to his mother Ancy Alphonse.
To which the former NCC shooter said, “Not more than a few minutes”.
Antony shot 240.7 to win the gold medal in the men’s 10m air rifle event. He outclassed Paris 2024 mixed team bronze medalist Sarabjot Singh, who finished fourth.
Later, in the day, he would watch the anime series not caring about the deadline to celebrate his victory.
“Well, I can say that my mother can relax with the watch-time at least today,” Antony laughs. “But then she has always encouraged me to pursue whatever I am passionate about. To become the National Games champion in a field consisting of Sarabjot Bhaiya is a special feeling. Even though I could not meet him post the final, I am sure I will get to see his Olympic medal some day and emulate his feat some day,” Antony tells The Indian Express.
Shooting was not his first interest. He was initially keen on pursuing football and skating as a career, but it changed after his mother took him to the Hawk Eye Rifle and Pistol Academy in Bangalore.
“I was a National Cadet Corps shooter during my college days and my thought was to ignite Jonathan’s interest in shooting along with other sports. He would pursue gymnastics, skating, chess as well Silambam. Initially, he shot with the academy’s pistol since we could not afford a new pistol. But once he shot good scores and was consistent, we got him a new pistol costing more than 1.8 lakh,” his mother recalled.