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With just a month left for the Beijing Olympics, shooter Gagan Narang is geared up for the big event. The 24-year-old Hyderabadi is currently on a training stint in Europe and in a test event in Hannover crossed the World Record, which will boost his confidence for the Games starting August 8. The shooter, who gave India its first ever World Cup gold in the 10-metre air rifle event in Guangzhou, China in 2006, in conversation with TWF correspondent Akash Banerjee
Are you satisfied with your preparations in the lead-up to the Olympic Games?
Well there is always a scope to get better and that can only happen if we have good infrastructure in place. However having said that, for the last seven months we have been training abroad and have managed fair deal of practice. I will take confidence from my World Cup scores as well. I won a bronze in China, earlier this year.
Recently in an un-official match event, you crossed a World Record. How much confidence have you gained from it before the Olympics?
Shooting 599 at any competition is immensely satisfying and it is an indicator of my current form. Going into the Beijing games it will surely give me a lot of confidence. My aim is to shoot consistent scores and if I am able to achieve that, the rest will follow
You are now training abroad. How does it help a shooter?
Well we are training abroad because of shortage of infrastructure at home. We do not have an all weather range. Moreover there is a shortage of ammunition in India. So, the government sent us abroad to train in the best ranges. Also we are buying ammunition from the open market, par with our requirement. The only advantage one can say is, the opportunity to take part in the international events and thereby hone our skills
This time shooters are the best bet for an Olympic medal. What are your expectations from Beijing?
Qualifying for the Olympics is in itself a big achievement. Every one of us who have qualified will be going there with the hope of bagging a medal. But it all comes down to the day of the competition and whoever strikes the right chord, walks into the range in a perfect mental and physical state, will walk away with laurels.
Who are the shooters in your category who you think are tough to beat?
Shooting is an individual sport where one has to compete against his own mind. But to answer your question I think the Chinese, Americans and most Europeans have been quite strong and are tough competitors. They are very difficult to beat. But I will also have the advantage of knowing the field because I have shot alongside most of them in Bundesliga or the German League
How beneficial has been your tie-up with Gold Quest and what kind of help do you get from them?
They are a group of very passionate sportsmen. I strongly believe that it takes a sportsman's heart to understand another. The Gold Quest has promised to help me in whichever way I need to prepare for the Olympic Games. I had applied for a training fund from the Central government and got only a part of the money needed. So when the association with Gold Quest happened, the promise was to meet up the expenses beyond what the Government gave. But now they have taken that promise beyond Beijing and have pledged to support me till the London games in 2012
Did you get any grant from the government for Olympics preparation? Was it sufficient?
Yes all the shooters who qualified for the games got some money but it was never going to be sufficient. To target medals in Olympic games, there is a lot one needs to invest in things like personal mental and physical trainer etc. Government funds met only part of our requirement
There is always a problem of availability of ammunitions in the country. What do you think about it and how much does that affects the shooters?
Ammunition is like food for the shooters and we always are under trained when compared to other countries that have a podium finish. But now is not the time to think of the stumbling blocks, rather keep our eyes on the goal. I think the federation and the government are in a better position to answer this question.
How much help do you get from you employers Indian Airlines?
Indian Airlines, now known as Air India, took me on as a rookie. They gave me the first scholarship as an ex-employee's son just after my father retired. It was a big help in those days when my sporting requirements had to be entirely met with by my family. They have been with me ever since
What do you feel has been the highest point of your career so far?
I am yet to scale the peak. But there have been a few highs like getting to be the World No.1, the 6 Commonwealth Golds, shooting 600/600
And what would you consider the lowest point?
I am a very positive person. I try and find positives even in defeat and build on them. So God willing, even if there are troughs, crests will follow.
Who do you consider your idol in the sporting world?
Mohammed Ali is my favourite. His grit of standing in the middle after taking so many knocks simply baffles me.
What inspired to take up shooting, given that there were so many other sporting options in front of you?
True there were options. As a child I tried my hand on cricket and tennis and at several sports till I picked up my gun. Parents thought that this too would be short-lived but wasn't to be. In a way, it was destiny! I was meant to do this. I have also justified shooting as my career option with several awards in the last few years. Surely one from Beijing will add to my list of highs!
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