Gauri Sheoran is the World University shooting champion in the 25-metre sports pistol, a memorable gold that she achieved in Kuala Lumpur last year.
The 21-year-old student of Masters Degree in Mass Communication of DAV College, Chandigarh, was preparing to defend her crown when the organisers of the 30th Summer Unversiade in Napoli, Italy, announced that her event was not being kept in the schedule.
Only air pistol, air rifle, trap and skeet events form the Universiade shooting competition to be staged in July.
“I am disappointed, but we can’t do anything about it. I am part of the national squad and am preparing for the national training camp, Kumar Surendra Singh championship and the National selection trials,” said Gauri, who is ranked eighth in the country in women’s 25-metre sports pistol.
In fact, Gauri had been competing in Plzen and Hannover this season to sharpen her shooting and be prepared for the competitions ahead. She did try to train with coach Munkhbayar Dorjsuren who has won two Olympic bronze medals in sports pistol, once each for Mongolia in Barcelona in 19992 and Germany in Beijing in 2008.
My style is different
“Rahi Sarnobat, who won the Olympic quota and gold medal in the ongoing Munich World Cup trains with her. My style of shooting is different and Munkhbayar’s coaching did not suit my technique,” remarked Gauri, who feels that if she tuned her mental approach, she could step it up in competition.
Gauri practises yoga, works out in the gym, walks on the banks of the Sukhna Lake, and swims to stay sharp.
It may not be easy to get into the Indian team in sports pistol, but Gauri says that she will keep trying. “In sports, anything is possible,” she said.
Gauri does a lot of social work to use sports as a tool for personality and career development, especially for the under-privileged.
For someone who was part of the national junior team for about five years, and who made the women’s team for the World Cups in 2014, Gauri has not kept pace with the fast-raising stars, owing perhaps to her varying interests.
She will continue to aim the bull’s eye, though.
Published - May 29, 2019 09:44 pm IST
