Last time his rifle went off at the Beijing Shooting Range Hall, it fetched him a bronze. Come Olympics and Gagan Narang says he won't have issues with the colour of the medal.
NEW DELHI: Last time his rifle went off at the Beijing Shooting Range Hall, it fetched him a bronze. Come Olympics and Gagan Narang says he won't have issues with the colour of the medal.
China so far has not let down the Hyderabadi sharpshooter and as he leaves for Beijing via Malaysia, Gagan only hopes that his love affair with the country continues.
"I have been to the Beijing Shooting Range Hall in April and it's huge, breathtaking. I have good memories of the place and hope it remains the same," Gagan said before leaving for Malaysia.
Gagan's tryst with China began in 2006 Guangzhou ISSF World Cup where he won the gold. In April this year, he won bronze in the Beijing World Cup and within four months, Gagan returns to the same venue hoping for an encore.
"I know it's not going to be a cakewalk. I have to command my mind and body together and put my best foot forward. I have to give my best and pray it would be good enough for a medal," said the shooter, who became the first marksman to book his Beijing berth in rifle events.
Gagan's confidence stems from his purple patch and the world number eight just bettered the 10m air rifle world record at Hannover, Germany in an Olympic test event earlier this month.
Gagan still remains wary of competition.
"Russians, Chinese, Americans -- none of them are really sitting back and relaxing. It's going to be one hell of a competition.
"The toughest competition probably comes from yourself. You have to completely block your mind. Forget about the goal, which is the medal, and concentrate on the path only. That will be key," he said.
"I'm particularly happy with the way my coach Lazlo Szucsak planned my schedule. It was worked out in such a way to ensure that I peak at the right time. We have done our bit and I just pray things go according to plan," said the shooter.
Incidentally, Gagan will have compatriot Abhinav Bindra in the same range and he says they only goad each other to do well.
"It's not like competing with each other. We more of spur each other to do better. I will be happy if he comes back with a medal. And will be happier if both of us win medals," he said.
According to him, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore's silver medal at Athens Olympics has raised the bar for others and expectations would be high from the shooters this time as well.
"Rathore, sort of, set a new benchmark for all of us and I can promise that I'll give my best but cannot tell you if that would be good enough (for a medal)," he said.
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