CHENNAI: In numerous sports, being 40 is generally considered old. Footballers and cricketers are generally looking for alternative avenues after hitting that mark. But in a sport like shooting, age is not an obstacle. At least not for skeet ace Mairaj Ahmad Khan.
Having toiled for years, the shooter who has been practising the craft for more than a decade is finally witnessing his awakening. The first Indian shooter to qualify for the Rio Olympics has had a highly impressive run in the last two summers. Having found the secret to success, he is looking to maximise on his potential.
Just last week, he won a bronze medal at the Asian Championship in Abu Dhabi. Just a few days prior to that, he had celebrated his 41st birthday. That outcome has only increased his belief. “The important thing is that I have managed to hit a good score. It’s always good to be on the podium but my target is always to win gold,” Mairaj reflected.
He credits countless days in the field for the surge. “I have taken part in a lot of tournaments. So, I’m aware of the challenges and the pressure that comes with it. I have an upper hand when I’m up against youngsters.”
Mairaj’s success has coincided with the rise of skeet shooting in India. After the arrival of Ennio Falco, former Olympic gold medallist, Mairaj and other skeet hopefuls have benefited a great deal. “There are around 200 skeet shooters who will participate in the upcoming nationals. In the past, we would barely have 50 shooters or so,” he revealed.
Mairaj was the only other shooter, apart from Abhinav Bindra, who received a positive review after Rio. Having narrowly missed out, he is determined to win a medal in Tokyo. “I had given 200 per cent during the preparation. But it’s also a matter of luck. It was a tough lesson.”
His eye-catching performances have attracted enough attention and he has been in the news on a frequent basis. Mairaj can notice the subtle differences in his profile. “After I won silver at the Rio World Cup, people used to call me the first shooter to win a World Cup medal. But winning Olympic gold is my main aim and I’m working towards achieving it.”
Apart from constant travelling and being away from the comforts of home, Mairaj revealed the recurrent cost for training and travelling has burnt a big hole in his pockets. He has had no financial support despite his commendable effort on the field. “The government has been highly supportive. But I have no private sponsors. We also don’t have any retirement benefits. It would be nice if we could some sponsors just to keep us afloat,” the man from Khurja, Uttar Pradesh, concluded.
anmol@newindianexpress.com