Rahi Sarnobat feels that the Tokyo bound Indian shooting contingent is stronger than ever

Tokyo bound pistol shooter, Rahi Sarnobat says that her perspective of featuring in the Tokyo Olympics will be completely different from that of the London Olympics in 2012. That was the last time she qualified for the Summers Games and hence this time she is eager to at least get a place on the podium.

Competing at the 25m pistol event along with ace Indian shooter Manu Bhaker, the 30-year has full belief in her abilities and that has developed after her experience in London.

“The biggest lesson I got from London was that as an athlete, we are much more than what we think. I believe that our abilities are higher than what we actually think. I got overwhelmed in London and was very satisfied just being there. But later, I felt that this was not unachievable, and it was absolutely in my hand, but it was just my thought process. I will have a different perspective this time,” Rahi Sarnobat said during an interaction.

Sarnobat’s confidence is not limited to herself as she also believes that the Indian contingent that is heading for Tokyo is very strong.

The 30-year-old shooter continued, “I believe we are going there as a stronger team. There is a huge difference between shooters of my generation and the younger ones. They are more ready than we were as juniors 10 or 15 years ago. This generation is really talented and confident. They respect their seniors and are willing to learn from their seniors and they believe in themselves equally and do not see themselves as the weaker part of the team.”

“There are days when I ask them how they do what they do and how they think. I seek their opinion, So, this is a discussion and not about me having been there at the Olympics and telling them something, it is not like that. Only when they come and ask me that I talk about my experience. They do not have questions about the past experience of the Olympics as they really have had good exposure in the past and good competitions as well and I think they are quite ready for the Olympics,” she opined.

The Indian pistol and rifle shooters are set to travel to Zagreb, Croatia for their national camp by a chartered flight. The entire travel and camp has been planned by the National Rifle Association of India and the Sports Authority of India, has been sanctioned a budget of around Rs. 4 crores by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The Tokyo bound Indian shooters are also scheduled to feature in the European championships as guest shooters.