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Gagan Narang is on a high after his performance at the Commonwealth tournament in Melbourne
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SHOOTER GAGAN Narang has emerged as one of the most successful young sportspersons from Hyderabad. This ace marksman recently returned from the Commonwealth Shooting Championship in Melbourne with two golds, including two new records. But strangely, there has been little acclaim of his feat.
He won the men's 10-metre air rifle competition with a record score of 699.7 (which comprised a score of 597 in the qualifying round and 102.7 in the final round). The previous record stood in the name of another Indian — Abhinav Bindra — at 696.8 points.
The other gold medal, which Gagan won came in the team competition where he partnered Manoj Kumar. The two of them notched up a combined tally of 1,183 out of a maximum of 1,200.
He is now preparing earnestly for the World Cup to be held in Korea soon. Gagan uses the German made `Walther' air rifle and in practice often takes up to 200 shots per session to develop his accuracy and concentration. A disadvantage that many Indian shooters face is that all weapons and ammunition have to be imported since good quality equipment is not available in India. Also imported is the stiff body suit that shooters wear. It provides support to the back and shoulder, which can be put under a lot of strain from having to hold up the rifle for long periods. But , the 22-year-old Gagan is confident that a successful career lies ahead of him since age is on his side.
"A shooter can continue in his sport for several years. Rathore who is in his mid-thirties seems to be at his peak now," says Gagan. "In the World Cup, I expect that if I can score about 597 in the initial round, it will be good enough to get a medal. But my aim will be to get the gold because then I can get a spot in the 2008 Olympics."
"There will be good shooters from China, Korea and several other countries, but in this sport, ultimately you are competing against yourself. You have to stay calm and focussed under pressure. Then you can be assured of a good performance," he explains.
Gagan is planning to take part in the 50-metre (three position) competitions also in the future. He sportingly shrugs off the fact that although Indian shooters have consistently won medals at the international level, they have not received the kind of recognition they deserve.
The sport continues to be a low-profile affair despite all the triumphs notched up by Indian participants. But like many young men who nurture a grand dream, Gagan battles on, believing that victory has its own rewards.
ABHIJIT SEN GUPTA
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