Mairaj Ahmad Khan: From batting with Virender Sehwag to India's pioneer skeet shooter!
Mairaj Ahmad Khan made the foray in skeet shooting for India at Rio 2016.
Veteran Indian skeet shooter Mairaj Ahmad Khan was introduced to cricket at a very young age. He was a hard-hitting batsman. Hailing from the Bulandshahar district in Uttar Pradesh, a young Mairaj even went on to captain his U-16 state team at the Vinoo Mankad trophy and also represented UP in the prestigious CK Nayudu trophy.
Interestingly, the top-order batsman, also played alongside former India opener Virender Sehwag at the inter-university contest in Jalandhar, Punjab, back in 1996. Mairaj and Sehwag were representing Jamia Milia University in a match against Punjab University.
"He (Virender Sehwag) scored a blistering 74 runs off 38 or 39 balls in the match. I got out for 19. We won the match," Mairaj told the Times of India.
The 45-year-old had also played cricket with and against the likes of Mohammad Saif (Mohammad Kaif's brother), Rizwan Shamshad, Feroze Ghayas, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Vijay Dahiya and Vijay Yadav.
However, there came a phase, when Mairaj realised that donning the Team India jersey will be a tough ask for him as there was a lot of competition. He decided to pursue his fascination towards shooting instead and it increased when he met Olympian-turned-coach Mansher Singh.
It was from there that he started to take keen interest in shooting and went on to represent India at his first international event in the World Cup in Lonato, Italy. And so his dream to represent India, was fulfilled.
He become the first skeet shooter from the country to secure a quota in Olympics for Rio 2016. He had, however, failed to qualify for the final round at his maiden Olympic appearance.
But the fire to give his best at the Olympics, is still alight, in the twilight zone of his career as he has taken special care of his body to remain fit ahead of Tokyo 2020. His day starts with stretching and foam rolling in the morning to occasionally consuming Turmeric Latte which helps him to keep going through the day.
And, all this, just because of his love to represent the country, at the highest level.
When will Mairaj Khan's Tokyo 2020 campaign get underway?
He will take on the centre stage for India at Tokyo 2020 in the men's skeet qualification on July 25.