Eye On The Prize

One of the best rifle shooters to have surfaced on the turf recently, Apurvi Chandela’s performance has been exceptional. We talk to her about her future plans.

- Mrinalini Singh

Shooting is a testing sport that entails an extensive skill set. How did you get started with it? What role does your family play in your career?

Well initially I was never too inclined towards shooting as I was interested in other things, but the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal won by Abhinav Bindra changed everything. I started developing a fondness towards the sport. I scored a perfect 10 in one of my first trials with a rifle at a local shooting range. Watching this, my family was incredibly supportive of this new vocation, so much so, that my father gifted me a rifle while my uncle built a shooting range in our backyard for me to practice.

Who has had the biggest impact on shaping you up as a competitive shooter?

My family’s support and my first mentor, Rakesh Manpat’s guidance. They have been the constant support system in my life. My family made sure that there was no dearth of facilities and my mentor took care of the technical aspect of my game. I don’t think a successful career in shooting would have been possible without their help.