After National Games gold, shooter Niraj sets sights on World Cup, Olympics

For long, Niraj Kumar has been touted as a talented shooter waiting for his turn of glory.

He won a gold medal in the team event at the ISSF World Cup in August 2023 along with Akhil Sheoran and Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar - a feat that, he says, remains his ‘highest achievement’.

Yet, despite his undeniable talent, an individual triumph against a tough field had remained elusive. That was until Thursday.

At the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand, Niraj overcame a formidable field to clinch the gold medal, cementing his place among India’s elite rifle shooters.

Calm and focused

With big names such as Olympic medallist Swapnil Kusale and Olympian Aishwary Pratap headlining the field, Niraj should have felt the nerves when he lined up for the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions final. But that was not the case; he remained unfazed. Leading from the onset, he emerged victorious.

“I am feeling really great. This was my third consecutive National Games medal. I won gold in Gujarat (2022) and silver in Goa (2023),” Niraj told The Bridge.

When asked about his preparations for the National Games, he emphasized the importance of meticulous planning as the key to his success.

“The process remains the same. The way you prepare is how you have to deliver in competition. In shooting, controlling the body becomes challenging when thoughts and anxiety run high under pressure. The key is to stay calm and focused, ensuring we give our best with every shot,” he added.

Niraj, who was born and brought up in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur and is representing Services as a sailor with the Indian Navy, demonstrated his newly gained calm and composed demeanour – a key element of succeeding in a mind-munching sport like shooting – throughout the kneeling, prone and standing events to clinch the gold medal with 464.1 points ahead of Madhya Pradesh’s Aishwary Pratap (462.4) and Maharashtra’s Swapnil (447.7).

'World Cup medal immediate goal'

The 25-year-old now hopes to build on his National Games success as he sets his sights on short- and long-term goals.

“I will first prepare well for the World Cup. Winning a World Cup medal is my immediate goal, and in the long run, my ultimate target is, of course, an Olympic medal,” said the young shooter, who took up the sport inspired by the legendary Abhinav Bindra.

“Every year, we learn something new. As long as the graph keeps rising, it is a positive sign. Over the last four years, my graph has only moved upward, and that makes me very happy. I will continue giving my best in upcoming tournaments to take my career to the highest level,” he added.

Overcoming struggles

In the previous Olympic cycle, Niraj failed to make it to the Paris Olympics 2024, citing his lack of experience as a key setback. However, as he now sets his sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, he is confident of making his mark.

“At that time, I was not a very experienced shooter. But over the years, I have gained valuable experience and reached a new level - I will not look back from here,” he asserted.

“Experience is key. If someone does not perform well, it is often due to a lack of experience. We may train well, but replicating that performance in competition is challenging. With experience, it becomes easier,” added Niraj, who trains at the Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi.

Niraj’s journey to become a shooter is not without a struggle. He joined the NCC camp in 2015 and fell in love with shooting.

Although he demonstrated his potential early and convinced his parents to buy him a .22m Walther gun, to meet the expenses of shooting he had to find employment with the Indian Navy.

"Every athlete has their struggles. Shooting is an expensive sport, and to support my training expenses, I joined the Navy. Since then, I have been representing the Navy while striving for perfection in my game," Niraj signed off.