Anjum Moudgil remained focused on training amidst uncertainty
The 26-year-old rifle shooter from Chandigarh remained committed to the ISSF World Cup which was to be held in New Delhi until the last moment.
Ace Indian rifle shooter Anjum Moudgil has revealed that the Indian shooters remained focussed on their training during their time at the camp in New Delhi earlier this month, despite the uncertainty surrounding the World Cup.
The ISSF World Cup in New Delhi was one of the first sporting events in India to be cancelled in March after the coronavirus outbreak escalated globally. As a result, only six nations were left in the competition with the world shooting body eventually deciding to cancel the tournament altogether.
“Several other sporting events across the globe were also getting affected, so we were aware that nothing can be predicted,” Anjum Moudgil told the Hindustan Times.
“We were waiting to see and have the final and confirmed news about the competition. We remained focused on our training, though, no matter what the scenario,” she added.
Getting business done early
India has huge hopes from their shooting contingent at the Olympics with as many as 15 shooters already winning quotas in their respective events, so far. And Anjum Moudgil was one of the first shooters to get her Tokyo Olympics quota sealed
She won a silver medal in the 10m Air Rifle at the ISSF World Championship in Changwon, South Korea, in September 2018. Apart from that, Anjum Moudgil had also won the silver medal in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Consequently, she claimed the world number 2 spot in women's 10m Air Rifle ISSF rankings and the no. 1 Indian spot in the women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions event in 2019 and was also picked for the Arjuna Award last year.
Leaving training and putting a halt on the momentum to wait in self-isolation was surely frustrating but Anjum Moudgil realizes the consequences.
“Yes, it’s difficult at this time to leave the training and competitive environment behind, especially when the Olympics are just a couple of months away. But this is a global issue and everyone should be responsible at this time,” she said.