S Kannan in Paris
For the shooters competing in the Paris Olympics, there will not be the joy of taking part in the opening ceremony along the Seine River on Friday. As 21 Indian shooters have been preparing hard in Chateauroux, 275km away from the French capital, the last thing on their minds is fanfare and enjoying the atmosphere and energy of the opening night’s glitz.
In fact, by the time the opening ceremony ends, some of the shooters may have hit the bed. Manu Bhaker, who begins her second Olympic journey with the air pistol match on Saturday, is certain she will be focused on the challenges ahead. The same goes for all the shooters who had arrived in Europe well in advance.
Apart from Manu, Esha Singh and Rhythm Sangwan are also strong medal prospects in the pistol events. The focus is on women this time with gender equality being the theme for the Paris Olympics. From Saturday till August 5, shooting will be in the news big time. Medals are not just a hope but a realistic expectation.
What happened at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and in Tokyo in 2021 is not important. What matters is how the shooters have slogged for the Paris Olympics, having been put through tough trials in the rifle and pistol events. The shotgun shooters are also preparing for the big day, having faced their trials at a different time.
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EXCLUSIVE: Gagan Narang speaks on his role as chef de mission in an exclusive interview with RevSportz.@AgeasFederal @gaGunNarang @kannandelhi #Paris2024 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/2wtg2QsAiR
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) July 25, 2024
What is most important, this time, is how shooters have been picked on form and averages, not past reputation. There is a huge load on Manu in three events – air, sports pistol and mixed. She has prepared for it with coach Jaspal Rana, and each day at training has been assiduous, with the focus on staying cool. Training in Europe and moving closer to France almost a month ago was important. Now, it all boils down to the big day and keeping nerves intact.
When you hear the names of Arjun Babuta, Elavenil Valarivan, Anjum Moudgil and Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, the depth and talent base stands out. The cynics will say that India have repeatedly failed on the big stage. But as Gagan Narang said to RevSportz in an interview on Thursday, this generation has attitude and aura. “Nobody is talking of winning a medal, they are talking of gold medals,” said Narang.
For an Olympic medallist and chef de mission to say such positive stuff about the shooters is such good news. Gagan had spent time with the shooters in Hangzhou, and Abhinav Bindra, gold-medal winner from Beijing (2008), has also, quietly, mentored so many shooters this time. There is more than a ray of hope.
Medals, and how many from Paris 2024? One has to wait. The Indian shooters suffer from nothing called stage fright or pressure. From the Asian level to the world stage, India’s finest have shown their prowess. If Tokyo was dark due to the Covid-19 pandemic, shooting fans are hoping Chateauroux will offer redemption.
This is a sport where a difference in decimals can decide medals. So, no one is talking of good luck and all that. It’s about serious preparation, and performances on the big stage against the world’s best.
Also Read: PT Usha opens up on near miss in LA, and how different the planning is for Paris 2024