We are less than a year away from the 2020 Olympics and one place where India is hoping to get a nice bunch of medals is shooting. Over the past 12 months, Indian shooters have dominated in international tournaments and things are looking good as we count down to Tokyo.?
Two names stand out in this fray. Apurvi Chandela and Anjum Moudgil. What makes them extra special? Well, the fact that they occupy first and second spot in 10m air rifle rankings for one certainly counts for a lot. Chandela won gold in the World Cup back in February and in May attained the stop spot. Last year in the Asian Games, she won the mixed rifle event silver. Meanwhile Moudgil won gold in the mixed event at the World Cup and that contributed her to jumping up the ranks to 2nd position.
Of course there is still a long way to go for the Olympics and neither of these two can afford to take it easy at this point.?
TOI
So what does Apurvi think of her achievement to be at the top? Well, she is certainly enjoying it.
"It's amazing to see India at the top not only in women's 10m air rifle but also in air pistol and other events. We are doing really well, it's been an amazing year for us," she said while speaking to Times of India.?
With the Asian Championships just around the corner, Anjum admits that she is a little nervous but that is just normal.
TOI
"Even if we have won the quota, we still all get the butterflies and everything in a pressure situation, be it air rifle or any other event," she said.?
By the way, being a shooter was not the main dream for these two. Apurvi wanted to be a sports journalist or a vet while Anjum had her sights set on becoming a pilot. But they do have one common goal now, winning and Olympic gold for India.
The only gold in shooting till now for us belongs to Abhinav Bindra in 2008. When our shooters take to the range in 2020, they will look to emulate him and do us proud. Keep on shooting for glory Apurvi and Anjum, go for gold!