Being calm under pressure in Saurabh Chaudhary’s biggest strength, says Jitu Rai
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Fallen shooting star Jitu Rai has been of the opinion that has been observing India’s shooting prodigy Saurabh Chaudhary for some time now and believes that being calm is his biggest strength. Rai also sounded extremely confident of returning to the India squad with his hard work.
Jitu Rai had been India’s shooting contingent’s star since last year where he won a medal at every international meets barring the Olympics. However, now he has fallen from grace with promising youngsters Saurabh Chaudhary and Abhishek Verma doing exceptionally well to keep him out as well.
The young duo has already sealed their quota places in the Tokyo Games next year in the 10m air pistol event and former world-record holder Rai didn’t fail to acknowledge the competition he is facing in his track for a comeback. Jitu has known Saurabh for years now and revealed that patience has been the strongest forte of the Meerut shooter.
“I have been seeing Saurabh since 2015-16 and I have seen that he is always very calm. This is his biggest strength. As a shooter, if you are calm in the head, half the work is done. I won’t lie. At the moment, Saurabh and Abhishek are shooting really well. Like anybody else, I would like to see them take their form to Tokyo and win medals for the country,” said Rai, reported TOI.
“Both Saurabh and Abhishek have won the quota places by shooting some great scores and winning gold medals. Saurabh has been shooting 587, a score that I have never hit in my career,” said Jitu, whose highest score is 585.
“But I also don't forget that the quotas belong to the country and being a shooter, my job is to compete. It will be difficult, but I will work hard to come back in the team,” Rai added.Â
Jitu, who finished 8th in the 10m air pistol final of the Rio Games back in 2016, has been training at the Shiv Chhatrapati sports complex ranges in Pune. And with the chance to participate in the next two World Cups no more in his hands, Jitu is eyeing the Asian Shooting Championships, which is scheduled to be held later this year.
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