I didn’t know I’d won, it was only when I went to my coach, I realised I’d won gold. It was an unbelievable feeling, but I don’t know what I was thinking—my mind was one big blank!
On the final round
I was worried because my sighting was not good at practice before the final. I wasn’t thinking of making history. After the qualifying round, I was in fourth position, two points behind the leaders. I had to go all out for it. I was just trying to shoot aggressively; it paid off.
On the first two-three shots, I felt good and confident but then began to feel a bit tired. On the last two-three shots, it was a battle. I could feel my body tiring, I could feel the pressure of getting a good score with every hit. But I did it. It was my day, I guess.
On his wait for the gold
I worked hard for it, for 12 years, and it was always a dream. But life goes on. The difference between winning and losing isn’t much. I didn’t do anything very differently in the final.
On the enormity of his feat
Well, it’s the first individual gold medal by an Indian, but I don’t really understand why no Indian had ever won a gold before in an individual event.
On training in Germany
Essentially, it was adrenaline training—rope-climbing, scaling walls, walking on a tightrope 70 or 80 feet above the ground. The idea is to get a rush, a flow of adrenaline, and then to remain calm in that situation.
On the Athens disappointment
After Athens, it was difficult to take the plunge all over again. But I worked hard and went for it, and had the support of my family, coaches and many others.
On hopes for the future
I hope this will change the face of India’s Olympic sports. It’s not really a priority in India, but I do hope that my medal would bring Olympic sports into focus.
