Jitu Rai will represent India in the 10m air pistol and 50m pistol events (dna - Salman Ansari)
Thu, 2 Jun 2016-06:50am , Mumbai , dna
With the Rio Olympics a little more than two months away, it is India's 12-member shooting contingent that everyone has their eyes set on for a rich medal haul. Spearheading the challenge will be Jitu Rai, who can't wait to strike the bull's eye come August.
At an Olympic Gold Quest event in the city to felicitate Rio-bound athletes, one could forgive Rai for choosing to sit in a corner and be his shy self. It may be the Olympics, the event every athlete dreams of. But the 25-year-old of Nepali origin, who will participate in the 10m air pistol and 50m pistol events, seems undaunted by the task ahead of him and says he will let his shooting do the talking.
"We have won four shooting medals in the last three Olympics. Even we have to do what the previous winners have done. I don't think about things like pressure. Why should I take pressure? For me, Olympics is just a name.
There will always be shooters, there will always be a target to aim at, so it's best to keep things simple," says a smiling Rai.
Having won a gold medal each at the 2014 Asian Games and 2014 Commonwealth Games, Rai is no stranger when it comes to standing on the podium. Despite being the top-ranked player in the 50m event, 2016 hasn't been the best of years for Rai. But he chooses to take disappointment in his stride.
"Ups and downs keep happening. No athlete including the world champion has only enjoyed the highs in his career. What's equally important to know is that despite the lows, my ranking hasn't dipped to such an extent where I really need to buck up," said Rai, who finished fourth in the 50m pistol event at the ISSF Munich World Cup held last week.
With Rio being Rai's maiden Olympic appearance, getting used to the conditions was important for him. By participating at the ISSF World Cup in April, he has already ticked it off his checklist.
"It was important that I participate at a tournament in Rio ahead of the Games in order to get a feel of the place and the climate. Such things make a big difference. The biggest thing I learnt there was that the range is very different from the one we have here (in India). The 10m and 50m ranges are next to each other, leading to a lot of disturbance. The targets, too, are different. Now that I know how it's going to be, I must prepare myself for the noise," added Rai, who will next be seen at the ISSF World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, in June.
KNOW RAI
Won gold in 50m pistol at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow
Won gold in 50m pistol at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon
Won bronze in 10m air pistol team event at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon
Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl
Source:- http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report-olympics-is-just-a-name-it-s-best-to-keep-things-simple-shooter-jitu-rai-2218888
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