How India shook off slow start to claim historic skeet bronze: Anantjeet Naruka reveals

Anantjeet Singh Naruka said the mixed skeet team’s historic bronze medal at the Asian Games was built on a simple decision to forget a bad start and fight to the finish line. Naruka and Parinaaz Dhaliwal recovered from a meager 44/50 in the opening qualifying round to end on 138 to secure place in Thursday’s four-team final at the Asian Games here.

The pair had every reason to feel the pressure after struggling in the first round, but instead of dwelling on their mistakes, they supported each other and reset. Their response helped them complete a remarkable turnaround to win the country’s first-ever mixed team Asian Games skeet medal.

“We had a tough start. We both didn’t shoot well in the first round and then we thought we could still get it. We have two more rounds to go and we will fight until the last target,” said Naruka.

Dhaliwal echoed this approach, revealing how the pair deliberately focused away from the medal and focused only on completing the qualifying rounds.

“It was just about fighting until the very end. We were like, ‘Let’s give it everything and then see what happens after the third round,’ and we did,” she said.

For Naruka, the support between the two shooters was essential in a format where individual performances are tied together.

“We supported each other and kept saying we have to fight. That’s a mixed team, you know, that’s how it’s supposed to be,” he said.

THE POWER OF SUPPORTING PARTNERSHIPS

The atmosphere they created around them also contributed to the pair’s fight. Instead of letting the pressure of an Asian Games medal weigh on them, Naruka and Dhaliwal relaxed with each other and focused on the process.

Dhaliwal said the coaches and support staff also played an important role in keeping the spirits up when a medal was still uncertain.

“We had a really happy environment and we were like, ‘We’re going to do it. We don’t know how, but I know we’re going to do it eventually,'” Dhaliwal said.

This belief helped the Indians stay together in tough times and they eventually made it to the finals where they completed a historic podium finish. For Naruka, the result was a reflection of exactly what the mixed team format requires – trust, communication and the ability to fight as a unit.

The bronze also added another major medal to Naruka’s career, which already includes an individual bronze at the World Cup final in Delhi and fourth place at the Olympics. But the Asian Games podium had a different meaning for the Indian shooter.

A BRONZE WHICH MEANED MORE THAN THE OLYMPICS 4TH PLACE

Naruka admitted that standing on the podium at the Asian Games meant more to him than finishing fourth at the Olympics, where he narrowly missed out on a medal.

“I think this (Asian Games) because you’re fourth in the Olympics, but if you’re not on the podium, it doesn’t matter. Today we fought, we fought well and we won bronze,” he said.

It resulted in two memorable days for Indian skeet, which collected three medals at these Games. Naruka hopes that the success will give further impetus to the younger shooters of the discipline and encourage more Indian athletes to take up the sport.

“Of course, it’s a good motivation for the other shooters as well. I remember last time we won two medals in skeet, this time we have three, so we’re very happy,” he said.

Bronze also came to Naruk and Dhaliwal after two medals at the Games. Naruka earlier helped India to bronze in the men’s team event, while Dhaliwal was part of the women’s team that also finished on the podium.

For the pair, who started the day under pressure, the mixed team bronze was ultimately testament to their refusal to let a difficult start decide their fate.

– The end