CARNOUSTIE (DUNDEE) : “My hands are still shaking,” exclaimed Malaika Goel after winning the silver in the women’s 10m air pistol at the Commonwealth Games here on Friday. “My entire body has been shaking since yesterday (Thursday). I was nervous.”
It is an unusual comment from a shooter. You cannot shake and shoot. But if you are just a 16-year-old, it can be expected. Even before you are in control of your life, you have to control the gun.
The young girl from Ludhiana did just that. In fact, she was leading until the fourth round in the final. But call it nervousness or call it unlucky, she missed the gold to Shun Xie Teo of Singapore, who shot a final Games record of 198.6. Malaika managed 197.1. Heena Sidhu, who had qualified ahead of others, packed off early and finished a disappointing seventh.
Malaika, who started shooting at the age of 10, felt she was still in her dreams. Yes, she had been practising for this moment, but never did she feel that in her first Commonwealth Games would she be winning a medal. Even her qualifying was not up to her expectations. She finished fourth.
That did not dither her from entering the arena with hope. “I have beaten Heena Sidhu once and I was confident of doing something here. I did not even check my score sheet,” she said with a childish grin. Even the day before the event, she was nervous. “But the seniors really helped me calm nerves.” The 2013 national champion has just started shooting in the senior category and she has already shown promise.
Malaika’s parents travelled all the way from Jalandhar to witness this moment. Her mother Amanpreet Goel (in pic) tried to plant a kiss on her cheek after the medal ceremony but Malaika slowly moved away feeling a little shy and embarrassed. Signs of growing up! “Since her father is in police, she knew about shooting at a very young age,” said her mother. “Then she went for shooting and her coach (Gaganjit Singh) told us she has the potential to be a good shooter. That prompted us to put her into shooting.”
Malaika, who loves to watch movies, is not being able to pursue her studies as good as she wants. “I am completely off the books for a while now. You just don’t get the time. You are always travelling,” said the 12th standard Alpine School, Ludhiana, student.
If Malaika was basking in the glory, her compatriot and the favourite to win the gold Heena was still cursing herself and the moments that led up to the final. “I don’t know suddenly the organisers told me the coaches would take your stuff to the range,” said Heena. “I always carry my rifle and ammo. Also, they suddenly asked us to walk into the venue and that upset my rhythm a bit.”
Though topping the group, Heena, however, was not happy about her qualification round. “I know I could have done better. That upset me more than missing out on the medal,” she confessed rather gingerly. Malaika was not the only one nervous. Shun Xie Teo, the gold medallist, was nervous too. “I was really nervous but I told myself to remain focused,” said the new record setter, who used a heatpad to keep her hands warm even on a very sunny day here. But then, in shooting, all you need is a target and a bullet.