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`There're no second chances in life'

Nalini Radhakrishnan on encouraging shooting as a hobby

PHOTO: M. KARUNAKARAN

NALINI RADHAKRISHNAN

Shooting as a game should be encouraged. There is so much to learn. Let's start with discipline. At the range, you cannot touch a pistol or a gun without a supervisor. You stand in front of your target and hold your hand up like you were in school and wait your turn. You get it in time, but on the supervisor's "ceasefire" command, it ends. To get your 10, you have to learn to concentrate. You may have a thousand worries on your mind, but at the range, bid adieu to them. In a running race, you can sprint for the last few seconds and make up for the lost time; but in shooting, once the bullet leaves the pistol, it is out of your hands. In all the sports I have indulged in (badminton, basketball, athletics, golf, snooker), I get a second chance, but in shooting there is none. You learn to accept that there are no second chances in life. In dualling (a competition for women), you have three seconds to raise your hands, aim and shoot, and seven seconds to relax be

fore the next shot. If you lose the first, you have exactly seven seconds to feel upset about it. Dwell on it longer and you lose the second shot. You learn to move on in life despite setbacks. In trap shooting, you have to stay alert not to miss your target — a grey pigeon set free in any direction.

Despite my love for shooting, I own only an air pistol. With this game comes responsibility. Unless you are sure you will be careful, please don't own a pistol.

But if you are keen on having a shot at the sport, the range in Chennai has excellent facilities.

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AS TOLD TO ASHA MENON

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