# Bhagirath Samai

Bhagirath Samai (born 11 August 1957), is an Indian professional shooter who represented his country at the 1984 Summer Olympics. He won a gold medal at the 1986 Asian Games, for which performance he was awarded the Arjuna Award. He participated in two South Asian Games, two Asian Games, two Asian Shooting Championships, two Commonwealth Games and one Olympic Games.

## Career

| Events | Games | Name | Rating | Rank |
| 1982 Commonwealth Games | Air rifle | Bhagirath samai | ---- | ----- |
| 1982 Asian Games | SMALL BORE STD R. 3 PSN | BHAGIRATH SAMAI AMITABH CHATTERJEE SOMA DUTTA P.K. CHATTERJEE TEAM | 561 549 546 541 2197 | 12 20 22 26 5 |
| 1982 Asian Games | Air rifle | Bhagirath Samai S.K. ROY CHAUDHARY SOMA DUTTA RAMESH KUSALE team | 552 552 544 533 2181 | 23 23 26 28 7 |
| 1982 Asian Games | SMALL BORE F.R. 3 PSN. | BHAGIRATH SAMAI J. DASS P.K. CHATTERJEE I.C.CHITTIAPPA TEAM | 1100 1098 1069 4328 | 20 25 29 7 |
| Asian Shooting Championships | SMALL BORE FREE RIFLE PRONE | BHAGIRATH SAMAI | 585 | 9th |
| 1984 Summer Olympics | Free Rifle Prone | Bhagirath Samai | 583 | 45 |
| 1984 Summer Olympics | Air Rifle (M) | Bhagirath Samai | 56 | 39 |
| 1986 Asian Games | A.R.(1) M | Bhagirath Samai | 562 554 540 1656 | 12 15 23 6th |
| 1986 Asian Games | S.B. RIFLE PRONE | R.S. PERHAR BHAGIRATH SAMAI R.V.NATHAN TEAM | 591 591 583 1765 | 11 12 23 4th |
| 1986 Asian Games | FREE RIFLE 3 POSITION (1) | BHAGIRATH SAMAI J. DAS YADAV TEAM | 1127 1125 1099 3351 | 9 11 20 5 |
| 1986 Asian Games | SMALL BORE STD RIFLE 3 POSITION (M) | BHAGIRATH SAMAI J. DAS GHISALAL YADAV TEAM BRONZE | 573 572 557 1702 | 7 8 13 3 |
| 1987 Asian Shooting Championships | FREE RIFLE 3 POSITION (M) | BHAGIRATH SAMAI | 1120 | 14 |
| 1990 Commonwealth Games | AIR RIF RIFLE | BHAGIRATH SAMAI SOMA DUTTA TEAM BRONZE | 558 576 1148 | 15 4 3 |
| 1991 South Asian Games | FREE RIFLE 3P (M) | T.C.PALLANGAPPA BHAGIRATH SAMAI RAJ KUMAR (ARMY) TEAM GOLD | 1124 1118 1107 3349 | Gold Silver Bronze |
| 1993 South Asian Games | FREE RIFLE PRONE | BHAGIRATH SAMAI HANUMANA RAM K.S. KAUNDAL TEAM | 580 585 576 1741 | n/a bronze n/a bronze |
| 1993 VI SAF GAMES, DHAKA | FREE RIFLE 3 POSITION | BHAGIRATH SAMAI HANUMANA RAM K.S. KAUNDAL TEAM | 580 585 576 1741 | n/a bronze n/a bronze |

### Notable international performance

| Rank | Year | Event |
| 02 | 1991 | 1991 South Asian Games |
| 07 | 1986 | 1986 Asian Games |
| 09 | 1986 | 1986 Asian Games |
| 09 | 1983 | Asian Shooting Championships |
| 11 | 1986 | 1986 Asian Games |
| 12 | 1982 | 1982 Asian Games |
| 14 | 1987 | Asian Shooting Championships |
| 15 | 1990 | 1990 Commonwealth Games |
| 15 | 1986 | 1986 Asian Games |
| 20 | 1982 | 1986 Asian Games |
| 23 | 1986 | 1982 Asian Games |
| 39 | 1984 | 1984 Summer Olympics |
| 45 | 1984 | 1984 Summer Olympics |

## Awards and recognition

* Bhagirath Samai in Action
He was awarded the Arjuna Award in Shooting in 1986 for winning a Bronze Medal in the 1986 Asian Games
* He receives a life time Pension worth 6000 /- INR per month from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for his performance in international events.
* Midnapore rifle club gave him the title 'King of the Rifle of India'.

## Personal life

Bhagirath Samai was born in Asansol and is the youngest of his brothers. He said that he took shooting to reluctantly, but later fell in love with the sport. He married Rina Samai in 1992.
He currently does service for a construction company in Haldia, living away from family.