Two-time World champion and the Atlanta Olympics gold medallist, double trap marksman Russell Mark of Australia, was all praise for the Indian team, as he warmed up for the challenges ahead in the Commonwealth Games at the Karni Singh Range in Tughlakabad on Monday.
The amicable Aussie, who also has two World championship silver medals apart from the Sydney Olympics silver, commended the young Asher Noria, for his “beautiful technique”.
“Whoever has coached him has done a great job. It is not me though,” said Mark, who has been associated with coaching other Indians like Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore to the Olympic silver in Athens, apart from training the current World No. 3 Ronjan Sodhi.
“He is too young to be nervous. He has very good reflexes. He should be playing cricket which has all the money,” said Mark in a lighter vein, as he praised the World junior champion Noria, who shot a World record 146 out of 150 in winning that title in Munich.
Tough to beat
Conceding that India was tough to beat, Mark said the Englishmen needed to be watched.
“In 2002, India beat us on the count-back for the gold, when I was shooting with Michael Diamond. Last time in Melbourne, when India had looked unbeatable, we won the gold. Anybody but England this time,” said Mark, once again emphasising his sense of humour.
Mark was happy with the opening ceremony in which he had marched with the Aussie team, and said it was a spectacle and the balloon was the highlight, though the wait in the tunnel was too warm. He was also happy with shooter Abhinav Bindra carrying the flag for the host and taking the oath.
Satisfied
Meanwhile, Olympic champion Bindra had a light training session of 28 shots, and said he was happy with the opening ceremony. “It was nice and was bound to be good,” he said.
Samaresh Jung, who carried the Queen's baton inside the arena, praised the ceremony and the arrangements for transport, which he termed was better than what he had experienced in Doha and Melbourne.
Gagan Narang, who also had a light workout and restricted himself to 17 shots, liked the segment on yoga in the ceremony. The double World record holder, Narang shot 600 frames with his camera during the ceremony. He gave it to Omkar Singh for a while to ensure that he would also figure in some photos.
