Olympic Gold Quest has acted as a catalyst in my career: Gagan Narang

Experienced shooter Gagan Narang is the first sportsperson to be supported by OGQ in 2007. The 35-year-old air rifle shooter has participated in four Olympic Games – 2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing, 2012 London and 2016 Rio – and won bronze in 10m air rifle in London Games. Narang tells G Krishnan about his experiences with OGQ and how he has benefitted from its support. Excerpts:

How has OGQ changed the way you approach your sport?

The areas of support OGQ has given me are in travel, shooting competitions above and beyond the stipulated ones and sports science. I am the first athlete signed on by OGQ in 2007. The aim at that time was to help me bridge the gap between my training needs and what was being provided at that time by Sports Authority of India (SAI) and National Rifle Association of India. With an effective system, it was very quick to understand my needs and get me every little thing that I needed for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Despite my failure in Beijing (9th in 10m air rifle, 35th rank in 50m rifle prone and 13th in 50m rifle 3 position), OGQ did not let me go. It continued to support me to make a podium finish in London Olympics four years later. Rio 2016 was a narrow miss as well but it hasn’t lost faith in me. I am immensely grateful to OGQ for being with me for the last 11 years.

What are all the areas in which OGQ has made life easier for you?

It has made the following things easier for me: Getting a physio, nutritionist, mental trainer, medical support in case of injury, shooting competitions abroad to prepare for big events, funding my trips abroad to test and procure best ammunition and gun, get the best equipment and pay for a personal coach. I did not have to focus my energies in the above mentioned areas after OGQ came in and acted as a catalyst. I could concentrate on my shooting, bettering my technique. I did not have to think about the logistics behind the sport.

Were you a victim of government’s red tapism before OGQ came to support you?

SAI/ government would pay for training and preparation. The rest of the system had to be figured by the athletes. OGQ has the expertise and the manpower to do resource management that helps athletes. In an individual sport like shooting, when you do not have to bother when your visa was coming, if tickets were in order or not, check the quality of ammunition, and several such logistics. In my case OGQ has made all of them smooth. As a result, performance automatically improves. OGQ has acted as a catalyst in my sporting career where the major role has been played by the government, SAI and the federation.