Chateauroux Shooting Centre: Challenges & Hopes at the Olympics

Chateauroux Shooting Centre is proving challenging for Olympic shooters. India's foreign rifle coach, Thomas Farnik, highlights the hurdles and the added difficulty due to the athletes' lack of wind shooting awareness. Swapnil Kusale reached the men's final, while Sift Kaur Samra and Anjum Moudgil compete in women's events. Farnik remains hopeful for medals despite tough conditions.

Chateauroux Shooting Centre has become exceptionally challenging for marksmen and markswomen competing at the ongoing Olympics, according to India's foreign rifle shooting coach Thomas Farnik.

Besides the tough conditions, Farnik noted the added difficulty due to his trainees' lack of awareness about the importance of wind shooting. Nevertheless, Swapnil Kusale made history on Wednesday as the first Indian to reach the final of the 50m rifle 3 positions event at the Olympics. On Thursday, Kusale hopes to secure a podium finish, while Sift Kaur Samra and Anjum Moudgil aim for success in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions qualifications.

"Preparation is very good. Everything is set. Now it's important that the shooters have the perfect mindset for the competition, their mind is free, and they can do well," Farnik stated. The Austrian coach, appointed by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) after the Tokyo Olympics, indicated that the conditions are not easy, especially with the wind. "The wind is a little bit difficult," he added, expressing hope for medals despite the challenges.

(With inputs from agencies.)