Like Bindra, touch of Germany in Rahi’s success
ASKED ABOUT WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS RAHI’S BIGGEST VIRTUE, THE GERMAN SAID, “SHE NEVER GETS EXCITED BECAUSE OF THE BOOKS SHE KEEPS READING.”
PALEMBANG: Rifle shooter Abhinav Bindra was perhaps the first to realise that he needed to shift base to Germany and train the best he could with German coaches to have a realistic chance of winning an Olympic medal.
Bindra turned to Gaby Buhlmann to give his shooting the much needed fillip and the results started coming with him first emerging world champion in Zagreb in 2006 and then clinching the elusive Olympic gold in 2008 Beijing.
Rahi Sarnobat may not have followed the same path as Bindra in terms of shifting base to Germany but she has roped in a German coach of Mongolian descent — Munkhbayar Dorjsuren, who is a two-time world champion and has been with her since July last year.
Dorjsuren also won the women’s 25m pistol bronze medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.
NO PRESSURE
The German connection was all too visible as Rahi went about her task with the efficiency of a German machine, never once baulking under extreme pressure.
“Yes, that’s what I’ve taught her, never to buckle under pressure,” said Dorjsuren, who is Gaby Buhlmann’s contemporary and shot with her in competitions around the world, though in a different event.
Buhlmann was a rifle shooter while Dorjsuren is a two-time world champion in air pistol and 25m pistol.
Asked about what she thought was Rahi’s biggest virtue, the German said, “Actually, she never gets excited. May be, it’s because of the books on philosophy she keeps reading all the time.”
VORACIOUS READER
A voracious reader, Rahi says she can finish a book in hours and now she has three days before she boards the flight to Changwon for the World Championships.
Her target is to finish four books she has brought from India by Kannada writer SL Bhyrappa.
“I like his books which deal with philosophy and human relationships. Right now, I am reading Mandra. Hope to finish it by tonight. If I am alone you’ll only find me with a book, practicing shooting. I have no other hobby,” said Rahi before making her way out of the venue, perhaps to finish her book.