After his long absence from Indian team, the talented 10m air pistol shooter has created ripples this season breaking the national record
At the Goa National Games in 2023, India’s finest 10m air pistol shooter Saurabh Chaudhary watched the finals from the spectators stand. The Uttar Pradesh shooter had missed the eight-shooter medal round.
It was a low phase for the talented Saurabh – a Tokyo Olympic finalist and an Asian Games champion. This season, however, Saurabh has fought his way back into the Indian team with a string of impressive performances. At the National Championships, Saurabh shot a brilliant 591 out of 600 to break the national record. But finished outside medal bracket.
The mark of 591/600 was close to the world record of 594 in men’s air pistol which is in the name of legendary Jin Jong-oh of Korea – the four-time Olympic champion.
At the National Games he scored 578 but just about missed qualifying for the final because of lesser inner 10s. In the selection trials, Saurabh was at his best and scored an average of 584.85 that sealed his place in the Indian team.
In the build up to the Tokyo Olympics, Saurabh was considered a potential to win an Olympic medal. He had dominated the international competitions with elan. He was simply unstoppable!
He formed a formidable combination with double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker in mixed team air pistol. The promising pistol shooter, however, wasn’t able to soak the pressure of Olympics in Japan and could not finish on the podium despite making it to the final at the top shooter in 60 shots qualification.
The loss of form after Tokyo pushed him out of the team. The invincible aura soon vanished. In the last few years Saurabh was a shadow of his former self. He wasn’t able to regain his form at the time of selection trials for the Paris Olympic Games. His last appearance for India was at the 2023 Asian Championships.
The upcoming World Cups in Peru and Argentina in April, therefore, will be a fresh start for Saurabh, who shot into fame winning the junior world title in 2018 and went on to win a spree of medals at the World Cup circuit.
Saurabh is now looking ahead to his comeback in the international circuit. “I have been training but not able to work up the ladder,” he said after the Goa National Games.
On a comeback trail, the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games champion has been working to fine tune his triggering skills.
“I have been scoring good scores in training but to execute it in competition is important. In the last few competitions, I am feeling confident about my game. The national record has come as a big boost.
“I was competing in so many events before Tokyo that I never got the time to work on my shooting. When I was out of the team, I concentrated on technical things and areas I was lacking earlier,” said Saurabh, who has been working under former shooter and national pistol coach Samresh Jung.
Saurabh has been training at the High Performance Centre in SAI, NCOE (National Centre of Excellence) in Karni Singh range. He was inducted in the facility despite not being out of national reckoning as coaches felt he was a huge talent and needed guidance to come back. Gradually he has picked up his game and regained his place in the national team. An exciting season is ahead for the youngster with world championships scheduled this year, where he would be eager to prove himself.
