Come August 6 and the 2003 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Champion of Champions will don a new role. While she carries no weapon, Anjali Bhagwat will be armed with a microphone this time. The charming crackshot will give Star TV viewers a blow-by-blow account of what’s happening at the shooting ranges of Rio, where India’s medal prospects gleam brightest.
“That our shooters have qualified against tough opposition, say for instance in Asia, which can be as difficult as the Olympics itself, speaks of how well equipped they are for the fray. Podium places will be decided by prevalent conditions and more importantly on how they perform on the given days,” said the 2002 women’s 10 metre air rifle world No. 1.
“I have been interviewed for recorded sessions in the past. I am especially excited about the forthcoming telecast, because it will be live. Most of the commentary will be in Hindi but I will need to switch to English and Marathi often,” said the chief coach of the Anjali Bhagwat Shooting Academy from her Club 29 range in Wakad, Pune.
Would her flow of words be jarred by the ‘aayela’ and ‘gayela’ slang of her native Mumbai? “I will have to ‘censor’ those,” the three-time Olympian replied with a laugh. “Six simulation/training sessions have made me careful with choosing words, which must correlate to what’s unfolding on the screen,” Anjali averred.
If extensive reading will fire her expression and imagination, an armoury of anecdotes will be the ammunition to set her apart. Having been on the circuit for about two decades she’s all too familiar with the facts and foibles of leading shooters from all over the world. “My aim will be to provide authentic information and simplify the sport for the average follower,” she explained of her endeavour.
Even during competition, when she breaks out in a sweat wearing the heavy leather jacket, she has never been known to lose her cool mentally. “At the shooting post, it is imperative that I keep my mind blank, blocking everything except the target. During commentary it will be a sea change. I must observe everything minutely while keeping my thinking cap on, all the time,” she said of preparation for the new avatar.
