How & why Gagan Narang will define India in 2012
Because he is India's best bet to win a gold at this year's London Olympics. Even if he returns empty handed from London, he could stay in the news because of his penchant for thinking aloud.
By ET Bureau | Updated:
Gagan Narang
28 years, Shooter
Sector: Sports
Career milestones:
First made his mark at the 2002 National Games in Hyderabad
Won a string of medals at various contests, from the nationals to world championships
Why him:
Because he is India’s best bet to win a gold at this year’s London Olympics. Abhinav Bindra struck gold in 2008; an encore looks improbable due to his uneven form. Narang, in contrast, is in smoking hot form. He has won a sackful of medals since the Beijing Olympics and is the world record holder in the 10-metre air rifle event. He is also hungry for a medal, having missed the finals in Beijing by a whisker. Even if Narang returns empty handed from London, he could stay in the news because of his penchant for thinking aloud. He shared his thoughts with the press that he should have received the Khel Ratna award a year or two earlier. He was also the first Indian athlete to argue for Dow’s Olympics sponsorship, taking a different line from officials.
His 2011:
Won gold, 2 silvers at National Shooting Championship
Lost his passport before the Asian championship
What next:
Narang will not be short of preparation for the Olympics. There is first the Asian Championship in Doha, Qatar, in January. The World Shooting Championships in Changwon, South Korea is slated for April. Olympics happens in July. Narang will participate in three events, 10m Air Rifle, 50m Rifle Prone and 50m Rifle 3 Position, in London. Of course, there is the small matter of applying for a passport before all these events.
Narang’s favourite actors are Penelope Cruz and Nicole Kidman. His favourite sportspersons are Roger Federer and Michael Schumacher.
Who else: MS Dhoni
30 years, Indian Cricket Captain
Dhoni could return from Australia victorious, an unprecedented feat for any Indian team, despite the first Test defeat. That alone should make him 2012’s biggest sports star. If he still isn’t part of Indian cricketing lore after 2011’s World Cup win, the Aussie victory should do it. Say, the Aussies bludgeon India, Dhoni will still be hogging headlines. After all, he is the Indian captain. Subsequent victories will erase the bad memories of Australia. Cricket, in any case, doesn’t suffer from a short supply of matches. IPL, Tests, ODIs... In a packed year, Dhoni will be the man at the centre of all the action.
28 years, Shooter
Sector: Sports
Career milestones:
First made his mark at the 2002 National Games in Hyderabad
Won a string of medals at various contests, from the nationals to world championships
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Three-time national champion, Asian Games double silver medalist and quadruple gold medal winner at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.Why him:
Because he is India’s best bet to win a gold at this year’s London Olympics. Abhinav Bindra struck gold in 2008; an encore looks improbable due to his uneven form. Narang, in contrast, is in smoking hot form. He has won a sackful of medals since the Beijing Olympics and is the world record holder in the 10-metre air rifle event. He is also hungry for a medal, having missed the finals in Beijing by a whisker. Even if Narang returns empty handed from London, he could stay in the news because of his penchant for thinking aloud. He shared his thoughts with the press that he should have received the Khel Ratna award a year or two earlier. He was also the first Indian athlete to argue for Dow’s Olympics sponsorship, taking a different line from officials.
His 2011:
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Conferred the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna AwardWon gold, 2 silvers at National Shooting Championship
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Established his own shooting academy in PuneLost his passport before the Asian championship
What next:
Narang will not be short of preparation for the Olympics. There is first the Asian Championship in Doha, Qatar, in January. The World Shooting Championships in Changwon, South Korea is slated for April. Olympics happens in July. Narang will participate in three events, 10m Air Rifle, 50m Rifle Prone and 50m Rifle 3 Position, in London. Of course, there is the small matter of applying for a passport before all these events.
Narang’s favourite actors are Penelope Cruz and Nicole Kidman. His favourite sportspersons are Roger Federer and Michael Schumacher.
Who else: MS Dhoni
30 years, Indian Cricket Captain
Dhoni could return from Australia victorious, an unprecedented feat for any Indian team, despite the first Test defeat. That alone should make him 2012’s biggest sports star. If he still isn’t part of Indian cricketing lore after 2011’s World Cup win, the Aussie victory should do it. Say, the Aussies bludgeon India, Dhoni will still be hogging headlines. After all, he is the Indian captain. Subsequent victories will erase the bad memories of Australia. Cricket, in any case, doesn’t suffer from a short supply of matches. IPL, Tests, ODIs... In a packed year, Dhoni will be the man at the centre of all the action.
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