Beijing Olympic Games gold medallist Abhinav Bindra and world record holder Gagan Narang will be the cynosure of all eyes as the famed Indian shooting squad kicks off its campaign in the 19th Commonwealth Games in New Delhi on Tuesday.
'The monkey is off his back and he is now free to push his limits'.
Army marksman Sushil Ghaley shocked Commonwealth Games champion Gagan Narang and former CWG bronze winner Sanjeev Rajput to win the gold medal in the 50m rifle prone event at the 55th National Shooting Championship in Pune on Sunday.
Gagan Narang has conceded that the burden of high expectations is new for Indian shooters as they prepare for the London Olympics but promised to deliver at the Games in 2012.
Beijing Olympic Games gold medalist Abhinav Bindra won the men's 10m Air Rifle gold, pushing Commonwealth Games champion Gagan Narang to the silver, in the 55th National Shooting Championships in Pune on Friday.
Earlier, Samresh Jung won the gold medal in men's 50-metre Pistol individual event.
After being pushed to second place in his least favoured prone event, Commonwealth Games champion Gagan Narang was back in top form, firing his way to the men's 50m 3-Position gold on the concluding day of the 55th National Shooting Championships in Pune on Tuesday.
Ace batsman VVS Laxman and World champion wrestler Sushil Kumar were among seven sportspersons honoured with the prestigious Padma Shri on Tuesday for their contribution in their respective disciplines.
Ace Indian rifleman Gagan Narang claims he can control his nerves better than anyone else but this mental toughness will be put to the "ultimate test" when he heads to London next year to realise his long-cherished dream of winning an Olympic medal.
Beijing Games gold medallist Abhinav Bindra crashed out of the 10m Air Rifle event at the London Olympics with a dismal display in the qualifying rounds, but compatriot Gagan Narang kept alive India's hopes by advancing to the medal round in London on Monday.
The committee will also be suggesting measures for making the code acceptable to all the stakeholders so that a balance is struck between autonomy of National Sports Federations.
Shooter Gagan Narang provided the spark to India's Olympic campaign by clinching the bronze medal in the men's 10 m air rifle event while his compatriot Abhinav Bindra surprisingly failed to qualify for the finals at the Royal Artillery Barracks in London on Monday.
Shooter Gagan Narang, who failed to qualify for the Olympics final, will aim for a better show in the days ahead.
Ace marksman Gagan Narang added the 50m rifle prone position gold to the one he won earlier in the 10m event, while Olympic quota earner Annu Raj Singh grabbed the air pistol crown in the Kumar Surendra Singh Memorial Shooting Championships.
Led by Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra and Commonwealth Games hero Gagan Narang, Indian shooters would look to carry forward their stupendous CWG form into the Asian Games as the competition begin in Guangzhou on Saturday.
Manu Bhaker etched her name in the annals of Indian sports history on Sunday by clinching the bronze medal in the women's 10m air pistol event at the Paris Olympics.
India's leading marksmen Gagan Narang and Chain Singh failed to live up to expectations and were eliminated in the final of the 50 metres rifle prone event at the Commonwealth Games on Tuesday.
The five shooters had to first spend a few hours at the Atlanta Airport after KLM airlines shut the gates before they could board, leaving them with no choice but to spend 12 hours in the terminal where they were forced to sleep on benches and were also not provided with accommodation or food.
Abhinav Bindra will aim for his second-successive medal, while Gagan Narang will hope to end his Olympic jinx when the hyped duo takes aim in the 10m Air Rifle event of the London Games on Monday.
Gagan Narang's nightmarish Olympic campaign ended with another failure as he, along with debutante Sanjeev Rajput, failed to qualify for the finals of the 50m Rifle 3 position event of the Shooting competition. Despite his personal best score of 1168, the Hyderabad based shooter finished 13th in the field of 49 shooters while his compatriot Sanjeev creditable 1162 and ended 26th. The event was won by Ukraine's Jury Sukhorukov who shot 1272.5 (1173, 99.5).
From international sporting legends to national sporting icons, everyone took time out to wish fans and well-wishers for Diwali.
Unlike some of India's top pistol shooters, Gagan Narang is not 'deeply saddened' but ready to embrace change in Olympic events.
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The Mission Olympic Cell is also considering higher incentives for retired Olympians and world-class players who want to take up coaching, in an effort to retain top talent within India.
Olympic medallists Manu Bhaker and Mirabai Chanu have joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative to combat obesity, emphasizing the importance of healthy lifestyle choices.
Six athletes from the track and field, shooting and weightlifting disciplines were on Wednesday inducted into the Target Olympic Podium Scheme, with the Sports Ministry including discus thrower Seema Punia and leaving out seasoned shooter Gagan Narang.
Rubina Francis won a bronze medal in the women's air pistol SH1 event final to continue the strong show from the country's shooters in the Paris Paralympics on Saturday.
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Noted shooting coach Sanjay Chakraverty, who has given India some of its finest shooters including guiding the likes of Olympic medallist Gagan Narang and Anjali Bhagwat, died in Mumbai.
Former India shooting coach Sunny Thomas, who guided the Indian marksmen from 1993 to 2012 and witnessed multiple Olympic medals, died on Wednesday after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Olympic bronze medallist Gagan Narang on what made him start the Gagan Narang Sports Promotion Foundation way back in 2011 when he himself in the midst of his own shooting career.
Rifle shooters Gagan Narang and Chain Singh failed to progress to the finals of the men's rifle 3-position to crash out of the competition and end India's shooting campaign at the Rio Olympic Games on Sunday.
Manu Bhaker breaks jinx, earns India Olympic bronze in shooting after 12 years.
Gagan Narang has been dubbed the 'powerhouse' of Indian shooting by the Nation Rifle Association of India.
The Indian Olympic Association's athletes commission chairperson and boxing legend M C Mary Kom on Tuesday denied reports that she has resigned from her position.
It was mixed day for Indian shooters at the International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup as Olympic medallists Abhinav Bindra and Gagan Narang failed to qualify for the final round of the men's 10m Air Rifle event, while Jitu Rai progressed to the qualification round in 50m Pistol on the opening day at Fort Benning, United States on Thursday.
Beijing Games gold medallist Abhinav Bindra may have crashed out of the 10m air rifle event at the London Olympics after poor display in the qualifying rounds, but his father, Dr A S Bindra, is not dejected. He said his son fought like a brave sportsman.
Apart from his hard work and patience, Rahul credited his success to Abhishek Nayar, the former Indian cricketer and the Indian team's batting coach.
Gagan Narang grabbed the spotlight on Friday, winning the men's 50m Rifle 3-position event, for his his fourth gold medal of the Games.
