S.Kannan in Paris
Any athlete who goes to represent the country at the Olympics does feel emotional. To wear the India colours and be part of the contingent is a surreal moment. One man who competed as a pistol prodigy at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, USA, and is back in the mix for Paris 2024 is Jaspal Rana.
Twenty-eight years is a long gap between two Olympics, just that Rana is feeling the high energy and is happy as the Indian shooters are aiming for glory at the ranges at Chateauroux, 275 km away from Paris. “To be back with the Indian team is very sentimental for me. My mind goes back to my first and last Olympics as a shooter in Atlanta, so long back. At that time, I was young and touted as the best in Asia after my Asian Games performances in 1994. What I feel now is so different, to be part of an Indian team where expectations are so high,” Rana told RevSportz.
As the shooting caravan moved into the venue for the Games, away from the buzz and noise of Paris, Rana recalled how much things have changed. “When I shot in Atlanta, I knew I was not really a medal prospect. I mean, I would be shooting so many events at that time, centre fire pistol, standard pistol, rapid fire and also slow fire, which is air pistol. The Atlanta Olympics for me was just one discipline, air pistol. Had I trained just for that, I might have done better,” said the coach who is guiding the fortunes of Manu Bhaker.
Recalling his journey as a shooter and now a coach-cum-mentor to Bhaker, Rana is aware of expectations. He had started training most of the juniors who have now risen from the ranks, when the junior programme began seven years ago. “I feel the junior development thing from the NRAI was a big reason for so many talents to be unearthed in India. I am more than happy to see Indians coming up from there, and today, compete in the Olympics,” said the coach who was given the Dronacharya award a few years ago.
For the Latest Sports News: Click Here
There have been sad moments for Rana, as he was not favoured as a national coach. However, for Paris 2024, he has been named by the Sports Ministry as personal coach of Bhaker. “To be very honest, when Manu was preparing for Tokyo in 2021, I felt that for her to shoot just one event would be ideal. This time, to shoot three events in Paris 2024, she is more than ready. All I can say is, in terms of preparation, we have worked very hard. That’s most important for me and Manu,” said Rana.
He was not willing to be drawn into medal predictions. “From the time Manu asked me to guide her again last year, I took it up as an emotional assignment, if I am good enough to guide her. And she has done well in the trials, the journey from there onwards has been smooth. Each day spent at the ranges have been productive, be it in India or in Europe. As the big day nears, all I can say is Manu is well prepared and will do her best. There is a big difference from Tokyo to Paris as far as Manu is concerned, and I am saying it with confidence,” added Rana.
Comparing shooting in his days and now, the coach feels specialisation is now higher. “I used to shoot multiple events till the 2006 Asian Games in Doha. Today, Indian shooters prefer one discipline and want to focus just on it. Yes, in the case of Manu, she will be shooting three events this time, but most others are concentrating on one event,” he said.
As one who has been part of Indian shooting for over three decades, Rana is happy he is worthy of being part of the system any which way. “It’s a privilege and honour that the Sports Ministry selected me as a personal coach. The training schedules in air pistol and sports pistol have been meticulous,” he said.
In a way, the dream which Rana could not realise as a shooter, he is hoping Bhaker will achieve by being on top of her game on the big stage. Predictions are positive but for an Indian shooter not to win an Olympic medal after the 2012 London Olympics is an unnecessary reminder at this stage.
Also Read: The 1948 Olympic hockey final – when new India tamed the old imperial masters