To hell back, shooter Arjun striving for more

SHOOTERS are a rare breed.

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They have their idiosyncrasies and beliefs. They will go to any extent to train their mind and win medals. Arjun Babuta tried different things when an opportunity arose during the Covid lockdown. He would go sleepless during the night or wake up at odd hours so that he was accustomed to conditions that were extreme, hard and alien.

Arjun has had the toughest of times too. The 25-year-old was tormented by a bulged and displaced disc on his lower back.

He used to collapse on the ground while shooting. The toughest phase was when one doctor told him that he would never shoot again. But miracles do happen. Now, he is back stronger. "It was tough but I did not give up," he said after securing a berth in the Indian team for the Olympics in the 10m air rifle event. Sandeep Singh is the other shooter who finished in the top-two in the men's 10m air rifle category in the Olympic Selection Trials (OST).