The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : Recognition evades Narang

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 08, 2007
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Sport - Athletics

Recognition evades Narang

A. Joseph Antony

HYDERABAD: Eight international medals with five golds and three bronzes in 2006 and four golds the year before doesn't seem to have done much in terms of recognition for Gagan Narang.

On his return to Hyderabad from the Doha Asian Games, a TV cameraman took his quotes and then asked him who he was! "Is he from Hyderabad," wonder many residents of his hometown to this day.

"No one's interested in a bronze medallist," the crackshot joked, alluding to his Doha haul. Gagan had earlier won four Commonwealth golds at Melbourne. He also triumphed in the Guangzhou World Cup, where he defeated Athens Olympics gold medallist Qinan Zhu and current world champion Abhinav Bindra.

But public memory is short. Few know that in his four-gold haul at Melbourne, three were record-breaking efforts. "In the glitter of gold, records are relegated to the background," he says ruefully. Not many noticed that he had struck gold in an alternate event — the 50 metre three position rifle.

Recognition and reward for achievement in India is skewed. Accomplishment in the Asian Games, which sees 40 nations participate, is ranked higher than the Commonwealth that has 70 countries in the fray. The World Cup seems to come last despite shooters from about 100 countries figuring in it!

Back home, Gagan's consistency was lost on many. The only acknowledgement of his growing prowess was the Arjuna award last year. A hunger for recognition spurred him to even co-author a book, `The Commonwealth Journey — From Melbourne to New Delhi,' that showcased his penchant for photography.

Down but not out

All-round indifference drove him to depression, which manifested itself perhaps in a cervical problem forcing him to skip the Indore Nationals. He may be down but definitely not out. His mental trainer Vaibhav Agashe should help him keep his resolve. He's fitted his rifle has been fitted with a state-of-the-art carbon fibre stock.

After a week-long camp at Delhi, he leaves for international air rifle tourneys in Hungary and Munich from January 16 to 28. Four World Cups will follow — Fort Benning, Atlanta (March 31 to April 8), Sydney (April 25 to May 3), Bangkok (May 3 to 11) and Munich (May 28 to June 4).

Indian shooters get to train about 150 days a year, when compared to between 320 and 330 of their overseas rivals. A day's training on the domestic circuit can cost about Rs 5,000. Narang is raring to go, but there's no sponsor on the horizon yet!

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