Shooting medallists: A yogi, a wrestler’s son

Palembang, August 20 

Deepak Kumar and Lakshay Sheoran, shooters with contrasting career paths, today made major breakthroughs by winning silver medals in the men’s 10m air rifle and men’s trap, respectively.

The 30-year-old Deepak did not mind the long wait for a major medal, 14 years after he picked up the sport.

Lakshay, on the other hand, picked up the gun only four years ago as a teenager, and at 20, he is a silver medallist at Asiad, equalling the feat achieved by former world champion Manavjit Singh Sandhu at the 2006 Doha edition. Veteran Sandhu also happened to be in the trap field today and was very much in the medal hunt until he missed five targets towards the end to finish fourth. With his father Somvir being a former national champion wrestler, it was no surprise that Lakshay rushed to touch Sandhu’s feet after the competition.

The trap final was won by Chinese Taipei’s Kunpi Yang, who shot a sensational 48 to equal the world record. Lakshay shot 43, while South Korean Daemyeong Ahn took the bronze with 30.

“Since childhood I liked guns. I used to try shooting with my father. But when I decided to pursue the sport seriously, he was not very sure about it. I am sure he is proud now,” said the shooter from Jind in Haryana.

Shotgun coach Mansher Singh said Lakshay was on the junior programme but was fast-tracked into the senior team. But fearing he would feel the pressure in a big event, Mansher kept him away from the crowd and Lakshay was only confined to his room.

‘Eventually you get your due’

In the morning session, Deepak produced a late surge to steal the silver in the 10m rifle event. It was the biggest result of his career but the 30-year-old, having spent the better part of his life at a gurukul in Dehradun, kept his emotions in check.

China’s defending champion Yang Haoran was a cut above the rest, winning the gold with an aggregate of 249.1. Deepak, who was not in the race until the 18th shot when he shot a 10.9, scored 247.7. He pushed Chinese Taipei’s Lu Shaochuan to third. Ravi Kumar, who had won a mixed team bronze alongside Apurvi Chandela yesterday, finished fourth.

Deepak broke into the Indian team only last year, having picked up shooting back in 2004. “Everyone keeps thinking about what they will get. I believe in spreading whatever I have learnt from my days in the gurukul. You eventually get your due. There is not point feeling sad about anything. Life is short,” said the spiritually-inclined shooter. “A true sportsman is someone who does not conserve his knowledge; he is one who shares it with all.”

Deepak is a Sanskrit expert and a yogi. “My parents sent me away from Delhi because they did not want me to study in a city environment,” he said.

Meanwhile, Apurvi finished fifth in the women’s 10m rifle event, while teenager V Elavenil  failed to qualify for the finals. Seema Tomar finished last in the six-woman trap final and Shreyasi Singh failed to qualify for the final. — PTI