New Delhi [India], July 23 (ANI): Czech lure shooter David Kostelecky, at 50, is without doubt one of the oldest athletes to have expressed curiosity within the upcoming Shooting League of India. The two-time Olympic gold medallist (gold within the 2008 Beijing Olympics and silver within the 2020 Tokyo Olympics), who started capturing on the age of 14, turned 50 this yr however stays as excited as ever to take part on this first-of-its-kind event.
Kostelecky defined that his love for crew occasions is the first motive for his pleasure concerning the league.
‘I feel it’s extra concerning the groups than about particular person shooters. And I like it as a result of that is what I’m lacking in our sport or my profession,’ the Czech shooter stated, as quoted by an SLI press launch.
‘I’m excited to be part of a crew and attempt to win it collectively, as a result of all my life I’ve competed for myself and for my nation. I feel our sport wants extra crew occasions. I additionally like to shoot the combined occasions on the World Cups. Thus, for me, collaborating on this league is best than regular competitors. So this was my motivation for positive,’ he added.
Having began capturing 36 years in the past, David additionally spoke about how he has adjusted his health routine over time to make sure he stays match sufficient to proceed within the sport. Drawing motivation from Giovanni Pellielo, who lately received a gold medal within the 2025 ISSF Trap World Cup in Lonato on the age of 55, Kostelecky believes that bodily and psychological health may help one obtain excellence, no matter age.
Kostelecky, who grew to become the oldest Czech participant to win an Olympic medal in 2020, stated, ‘I’m joyful to say that I feel I’ve modified my health routine over time. I’ve tried to be stronger additionally as a result of I assumed it was lacking. I’ve seen the change it has delivered to my sport. And clearly, once I was younger, it was simple for me to remain match usually, however now I’m already ageing, so I’ve to do greater than earlier than. So I attempt to management my meals and do common train, play some tennis and padel to remain match.’
He additional revealed how, again in 2016, he was going through points along with his eyes and couldn’t see correctly, thus being on the verge of ending his profession. However, he discovered an optometrist who helped him along with his eyesight, which additional allowed him to shoot for 9 extra years.
‘Vision is most necessary in our sport. So there’s a man who can examine your imaginative and prescient within the sport, to not make you learn completely, however they will measure how your eyes are behaving within the sport, the way you see the depth of the house and stuff like this. They may enhance it. And it’s actually working as a result of I had plenty of issues with my eyes. I’m utilizing contact lenses now and this man saved my profession in 2016,’ the 2015 Larnaca World Cup gold medallist revealed.
He signed off by expressing his pleasure to play alongside among the finest capturing expertise on this planet and stated, ‘I feel it’s actually nice for the group to have an occasion like this, as a result of regardless of seeing any person for 10, 15 years, you have no idea him. But now, for those who take part with him within the crew, you may change into actual associates and buddies. So that’s actually nice, and I feel this will put all of the individuals collectively.’ (ANI)