Gagan Narang
Gagan Narang
Gagan Narangis an Indian shooter, in Air rifle shooting, supported by the Olympic Gold Quest. He was the first Indian to qualify for the London Olympics. He won the Bronze Medal in the Men's 10 m Air Rifle Event at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London with a final score of 701.1 on 30 July 2012. He is currently supported by Olympic Gold Quest, a not-for-profit foundation that identifies and supports Indian athletes...
NationalityIndian
ProfessionAthlete
Date of Birth6 May 1983
CountryIndia
Cricket is a self-sustaining industry; but corporates need to realise that other sports don't have that luxury. This is the time when they need to invest, and keep the faith. Every sport has the potential to create world champions. Imagine India as a country full of world champions. Why imagine? Let's just make it happen.
Winning an Olympic quota place itself was a very hard job. Add to that a gold medal as well.... I mean it was a fantastic feeling. All the credit goes to my coach, and ultimately, this was the first Olympic quota place for India, so I'm really proud.
Shooting in India has become more professional and it has helped us a lot.
When kids my age were picking up toy cars, I used to buy toy guns. So, I took up the sport more as a recreation than profession.
There was a time when my parents had to sell off a plot of land so that I can buy a rifle for competitive tournaments. After that we stayed in a rented house for the next 15 years.
As kids, we have all handled shot guns. From there on, there is no transition. It stays in the toy box. The idea is to get the transition and bridge the gap between the toy box and the shooting range.
This competition was not easy but I have been in form. I thought that I would be able to achieve the score. I am happy with it and this is my personal best.
Before I came to the World Cup, I was not very sure that I could win.
It was great out there and it was a personal best for me. The sport has picked up a lot in last few years and Indians are doing so well in it.
I'm glad to produce my personal best in this high-level competition.
Cricket pays well, so a lot of people are naturally drawn towards the game. But to carve a niche in non-cricket sports is not easy. So state governments need to be proactive. Indians need to be made aware of the power of an Olympic medal. It should be treated at par with an Oscars or a Nobel Prize.
For your friends and family, you are always a champion, but for the media and sponsors, not until you show a spark. Making a champ is more important than celebrating one. I want to be there for youngsters and help them do their best.
I think country needs to have a sporting culture. I think if sports were taken as curriculum in school and are encouraged in right way like government of Maharashtra and Haryana have done given Marks for Sports and encouraging them with good jobs.
When kids my age were picking up toy cars, I used to buy toy guns.