Aiming For Bull's Eye

Ace trap shooter Shagun Chowdhary, the first Indian woman to qualify for the Olympics, wishes shooting was accessible to all.

- Mukul Kashyap

A lot has changed since ace trap shooter Shagun Chowdhary competed at London Olympics in 2012. In an exclusive interview, she takes us through her sports journey and tells us what makes her hopeful for India. Excerpts:

What has been the toughest part of being an athlete?

When I started out, I was one of the few girls who took it up at a competitive level, with no past laurels to fall upon. No one took the sport or me seriously, and it did make a dent in my confidence level. I sometime doubted myself. But, I picked up the pieces and motivated myself. It often happens with athletes who are not playing a ‘popular’ genre of sport. Self-doubt creeps up, but one need to rethink and rearrange things.

You eventually were recognized for your fete…

Yes, but people took notice only after I started winning. Qualifying for Olympics in 2012 was like proving a point. Things are better today. We have over 100 women competing at the national level. I believe that athletes start to deliver and believe in themselves only after they are supported.

Do you think it is important to start early as a sportsperson?