"Big advantage": Anjum Moudgil to rely on low heart rate for Tokyo 2020
The 27-year-old has been named on the Indian team for women’s 50 metres 3 Position event and 10m air rifle mixed event for the Olympics
In a sport that banks on stillness, Anjum Moudgil’s low heart rate gives her a definite edge.
She has been named on the Indian team for the women's 50 meters rifle 3 positions event for the Tokyo Olympics. The event requires every shooter to shoot 40 shots each in kneeling, prone and standing positions, in that order.
To ensure that she remains at her best during the event in Tokyo, the 2018 Commonwealth Games silver medallist, has kept her fitness on track.
"My normal heart rate is between 60-65 beat per minute. It is much lower early in the morning," Moudgil said.
Explaining her low heart rate, Ashok Ahuja, former head of the sports medicine centre in Patiala's National Institute of Sports (NIS), said that it will serve to her advantage.
"It's a big advantage. A healthy young athlete's heart having a low pulse rate can pump 6.5 litres of blood per minute whereas non-athlete heart pumps close to 5 litres," Ahuja told IANS.
Moudgil will shift to Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Ranges in New Delhi to begin her training from April 15.
"The key feature of training will be focus. I will sit down with my national team coach and chalk out plans for coming months," Moudgil told IANS.
"The top shooters got a short break after the New Delhi World Cup that concluded on March 28. Since there is no facility for training in Chandigarh, I will shift to Delhi to practice at Dr Karni Singh Shooting Ranges," she said.
The 2018 World Championships silver medallist will also take part in the 10m air rifle mixed event during the Olympics.