Anjum Moudgil targets gold after silver streak

The year 2018 was stacked with silver medals for rifle shooter Anjum Moudgil. The 25-year-old is now eager to go one up this year with the World Cup starting on February 20 at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting range.

Anjum clinched silver medals at the World Cup, Commonwealth Games (in 50m Rifle 3-Positions) and World Championships in Changwon, Korea (in 10m air rifle), which also gave India an Olympic quota place.

“I have been working hard in the last couple of months after all the silvers. I hope to improve on my performance and not repeat the mistakes. I have lots of things to learn, especially in air (rifle),” said Anjum.

While winning the quota place has eased some pressure, the Chandigarh shooter was cautious not to be slack in training. She was well aware of the stiff competition, especially in air rifle, where youngsters like Elavenil Valarivan and Mehuli Ghosh have been shooting intimidating scores.

“Winning a quota place was beautiful, I never thought about it. But people told me you should have bagged a quota in 50m 3 Positions than in 10m air. Now, I couldn't have gone and shot bad! I shot in the Finals the way I wanted to. I won a silver, it was amazing, but then the story began,” she said.

Anjum was categorical that 50m 3-Position was not her pet event. “I think what gives me more confidence is doing more than one event. So I will surely target for 3P and air together (for Olympics),” she said.

“It (3 positions) is not my pet event. Obviously, I have won a couple of medals, but I focus on both events equally. Just because there are many good shooters in 10m air rifle and youngsters are doing so well, there is more pressure from the people that retaining your quota in 10m will be much more difficult. If you had won in 3P, it would have been easier. ”

Like most of her contemporaries, Anjum was in awe of the brilliance demonstrated by the junior shooters. “They are shooting world class scores. We are now asking them to tell us how to do that!. They have given us a benchmark, so we are working harder and getting our levels high.”

At the World Cup, Anjum would be shooting with a new rifle. “I had some issues with my old one so I changed it and now we are working on getting that together. Currently, it is more about working on different parts of my techniques and the way I train.”