It has been a roller-coaster ride, says Gagan Narang

Pune - Olympic bronze medallist, shooter Gagan Narang said Wednesday his journey from the Beijing Games to the London Olympics had been a roller-coaster ride.

The rifle-shooter failed to qualify for the final eight by a whisker, on a countback, in Beijing, where Bindra won the gold.

But destiny had something in store for Gagan in London as he went on to clinch the bronze while Bindra failed to qualify for the final round of the men’s 10-metre air rifle event.

“It has been a roller-coaster ride for me in the last five-six years. I have achieved finally what I deserve,” Gagan told IANS after landing here.

Gagan, however, said that his mother was not happy with the bronze.

“She wanted me to win the gold medal. I hope to fulfill her wish in the future,” he said.

The shooter, instead of going back to his hometown of Hyderabad, preferred to spend some time at his Gun for Glory Academy here. There were wild celebrations at his academy to welcome their hero.

Gagan was felicitated at the academy by Maharashtra Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Padmakar Valvi.

The 29-year-old said Pune was a special place for him. After the heartbreak in Beijing, he trained for four years at the Balewadi Sports Complex here.

“Pune has been a special place for. I have trained here for the last four years. When you look back at all those years of training, winning an Olympic medal was very tough.”

“I learnt a lot from the people who believed in me, I learnt more from the people who did not believe in me, I was training for four years. I particularly want to thank my coach Stanlius Lapidus, he has gone back for a vacation. I hope my effort inspires young kids to take up shooting,” he said.

Gagan was happy with India’s campaign at the Olympics.

“It is a gradual process. Sporting culture is needed where marks are given to students for sports in schools, jobs are assured for sportsperson and sponsors are willing to support them through rough times,” gagan said.

“We have picked momentum and are moving in the right direction. It began with (Rajyavardhan Singh) Rathore’s silver in Athens, (Abhinav) Bindra’s gold and two bronze in Beijing and four medals here. It is an encouraging sign.”