Hitting the bulls eye

MANISH NARWAL, 16 Para shooter, Faridabad

BECAUSE

Manish Narwal is a para-shooter from Delhi-NCR’s Ballabhgarh. He is unable to lift his right hand since birth. He clinched three golds and a bronze at the World Shooting Para-Sport in Chateauroux in France. He has already qualified for the 2020 Olympics because of his brilliant performance.

A child prodigy, he used to play football as he loved the outdoors . But due to his disability, he could not play beyond the club level.

He took up shooting only in 2016. Seeing his flair for the sport, his father delved into his savings and bought him a pistol for Rs 2 lakh.

SECRET OF MY SUCCESS

The credit for my success goes to my family that has always supported me. On days I feel like giving training a skip, it is my father’s words which encourage me to go and give my best.

It is important to have a good work ethic to succeed. The encouragement from my parents and my coach Rakesh Thakur at the TenX shooting academy at Ballbgarh are a big reason for my success in this game.

My father Dilbagh Narwal runs a workshop manufacturing farm equipment but he has never cut corners when it comes to my equipment. Only recently, he borrowed a sum of Rs 6 lakh to buy me two new pistols.

MY GOAL NEXT

I aim to win the gold at the 2020 Olympics. I am going to work very hard to make this dream come true.

MY ROLE MODEL

Saurabh Chaudhary, who won the gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games in 10m Air Pistol is my role model. I think he is one of the best players in this field.

BY THE WAY

I am very fond of football and love listening to songs. Music gives me a big high. I have so many favourites that I would be hard pressed to pick one number that I like the most.

SECOND OPINION

“Manish is extremely focused which makes him a formidable opponent. I am very proud of his achievements as is every red-blooded Indian.”

–Giriraj Singh, secretary general of Paralympic Committee of Haryana