India's love affair with shooting is unequivocally beautiful and glittering.? It is laden with glaring gold and magnifique moments of utter glory.
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Be it the silver medal win of Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore at the Athens Olympics in 2004 or the historic gold of Abhinav Bindra at Beijing Olympics in 2008, Indian shooters have given exceptional account of their mettle.?
Much before the Athens moment of recognition, shooting had been a sport that had promised much, but delivered too little. In the Olympics of 2004, the expectation from the sport was very little, if not blank.
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That was to change in the land of the Greeks, as Rajyavardhan made some spectacular target hits to write a new and illustrious chapter in Indian shooting history - winning silver in men's double trap event.
It was the spark Indian shooting badly needed - it was the coming of age moment. The tricolor flying in all its glory and national anthem reverberating with whole world watching, shooting had well and truly made its mark in Athens.
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Rajyavardhan gave shooting the lift, and it was given its place at the pinnacle by Abhinav Bindra in 2008 Beijing Olympics. After the 2004, it was shooting again that did India proud, more than ever.
The talented and crafty Abhinav Bindra won India's first individual gold in Men's 10m air rifle. It was historic and classic - shooting had made a glaring name for itself and given India a moment to cherish and relish, forever.
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The gold win thumped shooting to a new exclusive club and into writing legacy of its own. A distinction that it now shares with hockey - a Olympic gold. It doesn't get much better.
The upward trend has continued since and Indian shooters have surged ahead and dominating the circuit. The rapid development of sport was well evident from the fact that we won two medals at the 2012 Olympics as well.
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Vijay Kumar won a silver in Men's 25 metre rapid fire pistol, and Gagan Narang won a bronze in Men's 10 metre air rifle. That made it three consecutive Olympics where Indian shooter have made a podium finish.
The consistency and class has be visible through and through.Shooting is a sport that continues to make rapid strides and continues producing winners.
The current crop of our shooters are no different than their predecessors - they are bloody good and hellbent on winning.?
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Indian shooting had never had this good as Apurvi Chandela, Anjum Moudgil and Elavenil Valarivan were recently placed 1-2-3 in women¡¯s air rifle rankings, released by the International Shooting Federation.
Dominant and leading the pack. The young brigade is firing on all cylinders and imposing their authority. In the latest rankings, young duo of Saurabh Chaudhary and Abhishek Verma have been placed 1-2 in the latest 2019 rankings released by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF).
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This comes after they dominated the four-edition World Cup series by winning all four gold medals in the 10m air pistol event. The new generation is taking the legacy forward and doing a good job at it, clearly.?
With 2020 Tokyo Olympics not far away, a lot will be expected of the our shooters. But with the progress and form they are showing, they will relish the Olympic stage.
Shooting is a sport where we expect medals, and we only failed in Rio Olympics to pick one, having done so on three previous occasions.?
Tokyo will be the chance for the new prodigies to stake their claim, and they surely will.?