Sport 20

Pune, July 24, 2011

Congratulations on winning the highest sporting honour. What was your first re- SHOOTING STAR action when you heard of the news? _ Took liking for shooting when he was I was told by my academy director and nine. He first shot to burst balloons in a ‘Award will friend Pawan Singh about the award and funfair at Marina beach in Chennai. I was delighted to hear the news. It feels good to know that my past performances _ Used to play cricket before he took up have been recognised. However, I have big- shooting in 1996 at a club in Hyderabad. ger targets set for myself next year and _ Wanted to become an Air Force pilot. He help me that is where the focus will be. has a hobby of collecting and flying remote-controlled air planes. He wishes You had missed on getting the award on to fly a Sukhoi some day. the last two occasions. How disappoint- ing was it for you? _ Won two national awards — Padma I was quite disappointed about missing Shree and Khel Ratna — in the same out last year. When the award was an- year. push the nounced last year, I was in Munich for the _ Has qualified for the Olympic Games World Championship. Unfortunately, the thrice, including this time. awards were announced a day before my match. I was disappointed and disillu- sell his land, where he had planned to sioned. I didn’t feel like playing my match build a house. He had to sell it to buy a and my roommate Samaresh Jung, coach rifle for me. After I got medals at the in- limits higher’ Sunny Thomas, and Stanslav Lapidus had ternational level, people used to ask me a hard time convincing me to shoot. I about where to send their kids for shoot- went and shot there, and won bronze ing and I had nothing to suggest. Today, Ace shooter Gagan Narang medal and India’s first Olympic quota. I I am in a position to give it back to the consider that win, a special one, as it society. Through this academy, we will speaks to Tushar Dutt came at a time when I was low. The whole train talented shooters, and support experience taught me a lot. It taught me them in future, so that no other father how to handle adverse situations. And will have to sell his land to about the Rajiv Gandhi Khel since then, I always let my gun do the talk- buy rifles. ing and I am happy that I shot well in the Ratna and the dejection he Commonwealth Games and the Asians af- How do you manage, both, your practice ter that. and the academy work? faced since the past two Well, as of now we are After the disappointment of SUNDAY looking for the title spon- not getting the award last sor of the academy. Once years and his next goal, the year, you won four gold INTERVIEW that is done, I will be able medals at the Commonwealth Games in to focus fully on my train- Olympic Games. Excerpts: New Delhi. Were emotions involved in ing. But as of now, Pawan is handling the that performance? day-to-day routine of the academy. Performing in front of the home crowd was indeed special and it was a very emo- Your academy will also be organising a tionally charged moment. I am happy I national level championship in August. could live up to the expectations of the How is the preparation going for that? country. The preparation is going fine, and we have managed to bring some foreign com- How will this award help you to prepare panies on board to sponsor the event. But for the Olympic Games? finding Indian sponsors is becoming dif- Well, awards are a huge form of motiva- ficult for us. As of now, we have managed tion for Olympic athletes and definitely to bring Oakley, Walther, Eley, Holiday motivates the players to perform better in Inn, Capapie and others to sponsor us, but the future. It will definitely help me push we are still looking to find other sponsors, the limits higher. who can help us conduct the event.

Olympic Games are scheduled next year. Apart from shooting, is there anything else How are you preparing yourself for the you wanted to do? Games? As a child, I always wanted to become an I have a plan charted out for the Olympics air force pilot. Even today, I have a dream, with my coach. Last year was a bumper a dream of flying a Sukhoi jet. It will be a year for me and this year, I have been dream come true if I fly one. more or less experimenting with my ri- fle and equipment. This year, I will be test- Your first memory of Olympics... ing the right ammunition and then start I was nine-year-old when I saw an archer preparing for next year. shooting an arrow in to a bowl. That bowl was lit as soon as the arrow fell in it. That You have started your shooting academy was the first time I came to know about in Pune. What is the whole idea behind Olympic flame and the Games. It was in the academy? 1992, and I had no idea that after 12 years, I have seen a lot of struggle in the ini- I will participate in the Athens Games. tial days of my career. My father had to

Kushagra finds his match Pune’s Aryan beats tournament leader to share top place D Harika graduates to GM title she had been at the Flame DNA Correspondent Rakshitta faced a Sicilian Is the second Campus in Pune to undergo a defence today but started FACT FILE special training at the chess Pune’s Aryan Shah contin- pushing back Khushi’s Indian woman to World ranking - 14 (women) camp held by legendary GM ued his outstanding per- pieces from fourth move. achieve the feat Asian ranking - 4 Vladimirov, an initiative of formance by bringing down Rakshitta carved out a beau- National ranking - 2 Lakshya and Flame School. the tournament leader tiful plan and boldly sacri- after GM Koneru Vladimirov said, “I con- Kushagra Mohan in the ficed her rook for the knight Titles: gratulate Harika on this spe- penultimate round of the Na- which forced checkmate in 28 Humpy cial achievement. There was tional Under-7 Chess Cham- moves. International Master (IM) 2007 never a doubt in my mind pionship at Bharati Results: (Boys) Mohan DNA Correspondent Woman Grand Master (WGM) 2004 about her capability. I am sure Vidyapeeth on Saturday. Kushagra (AP, 8.5) lost to Woman FIDE Master (WF) 2003 she will continue this form and With this win he has Aryan Shah (Mah, 8.5); Harika Dronavalli is a Grand- bring more laurels.” jumped to the top spot with Nihal Sarin (Ker,7.5) drew master (GM) now. The Lak- Achievements GM Abhijit Kunte, the men- Kushagra (8.5 each) making with Aditya M (TN, 7.5); shya-Flame supported Andhra Silver medal in the women’s category at the tor for the chess vertical at the situation tricky. The last Sambit Panda (Ori, 8) bt Pradesh player has become the Commonwealth Chess Championship in D Harika during the Hangzhou Women Lakshya, said, “Harika has (11th) round on Sunday will Sanket Chakravarthi (WB, 7); second Indian woman after Mumbai (2003) Grandmaster chess tournament in China been in great form, following be the decider for the nation- Pragnanandha R (TN; 8) bt GM Koneru Humpy to attain Two World Youth Chess Championship titles her fine performances at the al crown as Sambit Panda the topmost title. She grabbed woman’s individual rapid event Asian individual chess cham- Bhaibab Singh (Ori, 7); Under-14 in Heraklio, Greece (2004) and Gold medal at the Asian Individual Woman and R Praggnanandhaa are who didn’t let the opportuni- Soumin Rajdev (Ori ,7.5) bt the final norm following her under-16 in Batumi, Georgia (2006). pionships and the South closely following the leaders ty go waste. Meanwhile, in fine performance at the 1st Chess Championship in Mashhad, Iran in African Open. We were ex- Ridit Nimdia (Mah, 7); World Junior Chess Championship title in 2011 with eight points each. the girl’s segment, leader Manpreet Singh (Del, 6) lost Hangzhou Women Grandmas- pecting a good result at this Gaziantep, Turkey (2008) Silver medal in the women’s category at the Aryan employed Rakshitta Ravi of to Aswin Kumar (TN, 7.5) ter chess tournament in China tournament too and are very a French defence Tamil Nadu ex- on Saturday. Was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2007. Commonwealth Championship in South pleased with her performance. game. Although he U-7 NATIONAL tended her lead to (Girls) Rakshita Ravi (TN; 9) Harika pocketed a total of Bronze medal in 2010 Asian Games in Africa (2011) At Lakshya, it’s our endeavour had faltered in the CHESS nine points out- bt Khushi Hombal (Kar, 7); 5.5 points, following seven to address the need-gaps of our opening and his 8th playing Karnata- Bhagyashri Patil (Mah, 8) bt draws and two wins, to finish Woman Grandmaster (WG) to achieve this since the past ed support. I am happy that I players and I am happy to see move would have cost him ka’s Khushi Hombal. She has Rindhiya V (TN, 7.5); Chaitra at a commendable third posi- and International Master (IM). few years and was confident of have reposed their faith in that the efforts are helping our dearly if Kushagra had no- almost assured the title as she Nadgouda (Kar, 6) lost to tion. Ten top women players So, in a way, this feat was a nat- getting it in this tournament. I me.” players in enhancing their per- ticed. Kushagra’s 18th move, needs just half point in the fi- Arushi Kotwal (JK, 7.5); competed in this round robin ural progression. Ecstatic over will continue to work hard to Harika is one of the four formance. This feat augurs trying to safeguard his king nal round. Maharashtra’s Chopdekar Gunjal (Goa, 6) event. the achievement, she said, “It’s be the World No 1. I would like chess players currently sup- well for the sport in our coun- proved to be slow and handed Bhagyashree Patil is on sec- lost to Niranjana Aishwarya Harika already holds double been a dream coming true for to thank Lakshya and Flame ported by Lakshya. Before tak- try and will encourage other over the initiative to Aryan, ond place with eight points. Das (WB, 7). norms for GM title and is a me. I have been working hard for lending me the much-need- ing part in the tournament, fellow players.” Skipper Nelson applauds manager Shebby in Venky’s academy The Blackburn Rovers manager Kean comes triumphant in first assignment This former Malaysian footballer is the first official to be roped in DNA Correspondent Ryan Nelson person Anuradha Desai said Joe Williams ball career as a central de- set, unlike Chelsea’s Russian Blackburn Rovers skipper that Kean would be offered a fender for the local team, owner and the Sheikhs who Blackburn Rovers players are new long-term contract. Serbgeth Shebby Singh be- Kuala Lumpur FA. He went own Manchester City. finding it tough to get into the Finally, on January 22 this comes the first official to join on to be a part of the Kuala “They own big teams, but game under the new manager He handled the year, it was confirmed by the Venky’s Blackburn Lumpur FA team which won what is their contribution to Steve Kean, after his prede- Rovers that he has signed a Rovers club football academy, the Malaysia Cup three years their people back home? cessor Sam Allardyce was situation well and contract till June 2013. “This is which is to come up on the in a row (1987-89).The foot- Nothing. But Venky’s want asked to leave. the last four wins because of the fact that Kean Mumbai-Pune Expressway. A baller, whose career lasted 18 to give back to their country, Yet, skipper Ryan Nelson has delivered things at the former Malaysian defender, years, has many laurels in his especially budding young- applauds Kean for his com- says it all right time,” said Nelson. now coach and television kitty. He won every domestic sters from the city,” he said. mendable job. “It is hard, but Nelson was amazed by the commentator, Singh was in honour, including the “I am very happy to be a Steve is the best in business assisting in the last three oc- youngsters playing the game the city as Venky’s guest to Malaysia Cup, Malaysian FA part of such a venture that and the way he rebuild the casions — Fulham (2003-07), in the city. “I was at the Bish- overlook its Rover Stars un- Cup and League Champi- taps talent. I always wanted team was amazing.” Real Sociebad (2007-08) and op’s School to witness a foot- der-16 football tournament. onship. He has played against to be one, especially in India Nelson was in the city for a Coventry City from 2008-11) — ball match. They were good “I am thankful to Venky’s Bayern Munich, Hamburg SV, where there is so much po- short trip on Venky’s invita- but he handled the situation both in participation and the to let me be associated with Aston Villa and Newcastle. tential,” he said. tion. The side passed through well and the last four wins says way they played the game,” this academy and the under- He was rated ‘Flop of The “Academies should not be a difficult phase when Al- it all,” said Nelson. said Nelson, who, along Kean, 16 side,” Singh told DNA. Match’ while facing Newcas- restricted only to players. lardyce was shown the door Kean was initially taken as interacted with the players on “Shebby Singh is the first tle United. Later, he also rep- Coaches should have their mid-way by Venky’s. In spite of a caretaker manager for Black- Saturday morning. official chosen for the acade- resented Malaysia in three own academies so that they the sword of relegation hang- burn. He was appointed man- “There is a lot of potential my and the under-16 team Asian Games (1982, 1986 and can transform players into ing on their neck, 45-year-old ager on contract on December and with our owners (Venky’s) build-up for the various 1990), and was a South East champions,” said Singh. Scottish Steve held his team to- 22 last year until the end of the coming up with the academy camps with the Blackburn Asian Games gold medallist “There is no doubt that In- gether in the last edition of the season to prove his abilities. and their plan to take young- Rovers in England,” said one in 1989. Talking about the con- dia has the potential of pro- Premier League. Later, looking at the way sters to England, days are not of the Venky’s officials. cept, Singh is quick to answer ducing big names, but one “This could be his first job things went about in the Pre- far to see Indian players in Pre- Singh, whose father was that the owners of Blackburn needs to get the right coach,” as a manager as he has been mier League, Venky’s chair- mier Leagues,” Nelson said. from Punjab, started his foot- Rovers have a different mind- he said.