New Delhi [India], August 25 (ANI): At 51, Mairaj Ahmad Khan continues to method capturing with the identical mindset that has sustained one in all India’s longest careers within the sport: concentrate on the current, work arduous and take each goal because it comes, in response to a launch.
His journey started within the under-12 class as a three-position rifle shooter, impressed by the firearms he grew up round. After a break to concentrate on research and cricket, he returned to capturing in 1994 as a shotgun shooter earlier than specialising in skeet from 2000.
Mairaj went on to grow to be a trailblazer for Indian skeet, turning into the nation’s first shooter within the occasion to qualify for the Olympics. He made his Olympic debut at Rio 2016, earlier than returning at Tokyo 2020, held in 2021.
‘I by no means go into the longer term. I all the time keep within the current. I take at some point at a time. I take one goal at a time. This is my longevity secret,’ Mairaj stated.
He additionally grew to become the primary Indian skeet shooter to win a World Cup medal, claiming silver on the ISSF World Shooting Championships in Rio in 2016, earlier than making historical past once more in 2022 by successful India’s first particular person ISSF World Cup gold in males’s skeet.
That 2022 triumph was notably particular as a result of it got here after Mairaj had severely thought of strolling away from the game. The loss of life of his father, the pandemic and the lack of sponsorship help had made persevering with tough, the discharge stated.
‘I realised that perhaps that is the time to say thanks to the game,’ he recalled. But the aggressive hearth remained. He returned by investing his personal cash and gained World Cup gold in Korea, proving that he nonetheless had what it took.
Although he missed out on Paris 2024, Mairaj has already set his sights on Los Angeles 2028.
‘I did not qualify for Paris, however I by no means hand over, and I’m focusing extra in direction of LA. Maybe the final word dream comes true in LA solely; you by no means know,’ he stated.
Now, with one other Asian Games forward, Mairaj stays unwilling to make predictions. For him, the method is unchanged: put together for the primary goal, keep current and provides every thing to the second.
‘My objective is all the time one goal at a time. I am unable to let you know that I’ll shoot a gold medal or I’ll shoot a silver medal. Whatever comes, you must settle for and transfer on. I’ll give my greatest. That’s my means. That’s my arduous work.’
After greater than three many years within the sport, two Olympic appearances and a historic World Cup gold, Mairaj Ahmad Khan continues to be chasing the identical factor — the right shot, one goal at a time. (ANI)