Asian Games: Gagan Narang: Man with the golden gun

Asian Games silver medallist and ace shooter Gagan Narang says that marriage is not on his mind for he is preoccupied with the preparation of London Olympics 2012.

SHOOTING STAR

He has proved his mettle as a shooter. But like any other youngster Gagan Narang started out with playing cricket, badminton and then table tennis. However, after he laid his hands on a gun there was no looking back. In Lucknow to receive the Madhavrao Scindia Leadership sportsman of the Year award 2010, Gagan is now planning on opening a shooting academy with the help of the government.

"Yes, I want that the government should support me in coming up with a shooting academy for aspiring shooters. I would like to train young upcoming shooters because I feel that Indian shooters could do really well at the national and the international level and bring laurels to the country," says Gagan, who recently bagged a silver medal at the Guangzhou Asian Games.

Upset at not being conferred the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, Gagan says, "As a sportsperson I feel that the government should honour a sportsperson when he deserves it because it boosts the morale. I was upset because I feel that I deserved the award," says he.

YEH DIL MAANGE MORE!

While Gagan wants to start a shooting academy, it's the unavailability of facilities for the shooters that bothers Gagan. "Be it cricket, football or any other sport the sporting goods are easily available in the market. But unfortunately when it comes to shooting as a sport, shooters don't get quality weapons and ammunition easily. The government should think about this," avers Gagan, who is now concentrating on 2012 Olympics that would be held in London for which he's been practicing since 2008.

"Shooting is a game of concentration and to give my best at the Olympics 2012, I am putting in a lot of efforts on improving my concentration. For this I have mental concentration trainers who give me tips for concentrating in a better way on my target. Also during the Guangzhou Asian Games my gun had some technical problem but now I have got that fixed too," says Narang.

Defending his performance at the Guangzhou Asian Games Gagan says, "The silver that I bagged at the Asian Games holds more importance for me then the gold medals that I bagged at the CWG. And I scored just one point less than the gold medal winner, so it wasn't so bad," says he.

MARRIAGE ON THE CARDS?

On a lighter note, when asked about his plans for marriage, Gagan says, "My schedule is really tight till the Olympics next year. I hardly get time to meet my parents. As far as marriage is concerned I think that it would only be possible after the Olympics." The shooter is in demand for sure.

Presently endorsing just one product, Narang is hopeful of bagging more advertisement contracts in future.