8 Mar 2018 by Hope Kerslake
Shooting
8 Mar 2018 by Hope Kerslake
He’s one of India’s most decorated athletes, but Gagan Narang’s prestigious shooting career would not have come about if it wasn’t for his parents selling their plot of land.
The Olympic marksman, who was born in Chennai - the capital of the Indian state Tamil Nad - tried his hand at several sports when he was younger but got hooked to the sport of shooting from the outset
Noticing their son’s talent, Narang’s parents sold a plot of land in Hyderabad in order to buy his first gun and follow his dreams.
Although the plot in the capital of southern India's Telangana state would be worth a fair amount of money today, it paid off with the marksman winning a medal at every possible level of competition and became a legend in his home nation.
Competing for over two decades, Narang is a three-time World Cup medallist, two-time world record holder, Olympic bronze medallist and has 10 Commonwealth Games medals.
The 34-year-old is also the only shooter to have achieved a perfect 600/600 in the 10m Air Rifle, a world record, twice, and has received his country’s highest sporting honor, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and the fourth highest civilian award, the Padma Shri.
More recently, the right-hand shooter won a silver medal in the men’s 50m rifle prone event at the Commonwealth Shooting Championships at Belmont.
Having competed in multiple locations across the globe, the 50m rifle shooter only had praise for the GC2018 Shooting venue and the Games’ home nation.
“I was very impressed with the range, its location and the facilities it offers,” Narang told GC2018.com.
“Growing up I have heard and watched numerous documentaries on the Australian outback, the golden beaches and I was thrilled to have a firsthand experience.
“We were in Brisbane days before the first Ashes Test at the Gabba and there was a lot of talk surrounding that.
“What appeals to me the most is the great enthusiasm among the Aussies for sports.”
My first medal of 2017. Gearing up for #CWG2018. Did my basics right in Brisbane. A big thanks to @OfficialNRAI @Media_SAI @OGQ_India
One of the most decorated athletes in Commonwealth Games history, Narang will be bringing his distinguished experience to GC2018, being named in the Indian Shooting team of 27 athletes.
The team are one of the nations to watch across the three disciplines of Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun, currently standing second on the all-time Shooting Commonwealth Games medal list and the sport accounting for over a quarter of the country’s total Commonwealth medals.
“India is fielding a 27-member strong shooting team - some proven talent, some unknown but has proven their worth nationally,” Narang said.
“Each one has the ability to finish with a medal.
I would say India's shooting contingent will once again have a rich medal haul at the Commonwealth Games.”
Competing in the 50-metre rifle prone event at GC2018, Narang is hoping his history with winning gold in Australia - four gold medal at Melbourne 2006 - will repeat on the Gold Coast.
“Every Commonwealth Games is unique in its flavour. As an athlete, I enjoy the buzz of the games as much as the actual games,” he said.
“I had won big in Melbourne back in 2006 and that really set the stage for a long and successful sporting journey. I would expect for some turning points this time as well.
“Not just me, there are some juniors in the team, who have worked closely with me, are expected to win medals. It will be very satisfying if all of us are able to accomplish our goals in shooting respective events.”
Tickets to the GC2018 Shooting competition are limited with only two sessions remaining – SH0901 on Monday 9 April and SH1001 on Tuesday 10 April .
The Indian shooting team heading to GC2018 this April includes:
Poste by Thom Erik Syrdahl Source - www.gc2018.com/article/gagan-narang- targets-another-commonwealth-gold |
