Asian Games 2018: Drowned myself in music and thought I am the best, says Lakshay
While others, including stalwart Manavjit Singh Sandhu withered away, Lakshay seemed to enjoy shooting. That frolic and jive won Lakshay Sheoran the biggest medal of his fledgling career, as the 20-year-old boy from Jind (Haryana) won India’s second silver on Monday.
He kept jiving to the loud music playing in the background even as the competition got hot and the weather hotter at the Jakabaring Complex shooting ranges. Lakshay Sheoran was in his own world, least bothered about what other trap shooters were doing, hardly ever looking at the fluorescent scoreboard that kept counting the ‘hits and misses’ — hits in green, misses in red.
While others, including stalwart Manavjit Singh Sandhu withered away, Lakshay seemed to enjoy shooting. That frolic and jive won Lakshay the biggest medal of his fledgling career, as the 20-year-old boy from Jind (Haryana) won India’s second silver on Monday. It took India’s tally in shooting to three — two silver and a bronze.
It could have been a silver and bronze for India in trap but for Manavjit’s bad luck which saw him being eliminated after missing two consecutive shots — 34th and 35th — in the elimination round. But then, the Asian Games have become somewhat of a jinx for the former world champion.
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The day belonged to Lakshay, who according to national coach Mansher Singh had been “kept under wraps” to protect him from bad influence. It showed in his etiquette since as soon after winning the medal, he touched the feet of not just Mansher but also Manavjit Sandhu before walking into the cool environs of the restroom.
That grooming has probably come from his family of sportspersons. Lakshay’s father Somveer pehalwan was the national champion in wrestling in 1994. And it’s a tradition among wrestlers to touch seniors’ feat after every bout. This was no less than a tough wrestling bout, but Lakshay had decided to compete on his terms. After qualifying for the finals with a score of 119/125 — five shooters, including Manavjit were tied on 119 — it was time for the elimination round.
If trap shooting itself is not gruelling enough, the dead heat made it tougher. But Lakshay — who picked up air pistol shooting as a hobby before a visit to the Karni Singh Ranges made him choose the big guns — kept pace with the pack before upping his game in elimination, missing only four targets.
On any other day, Lakshay could have won gold, but the gold medallist, Yang Kunpi of Chinese Taipei — who equalled the world record with a 48 — didn’t miss a single shot, smashing every clay pigeon to smithereens, evoking deafening celebrations in the gallery. Lakshay had 43.
“I was soaking in the atmosphere. A good number was playing in the background and I drowned myself in music, thinking I am the best,” said Lakshay who took up shotgun shooting four years back and has competed in seven junior international events, most of them World Cups, since 2015. He was made to compete in the senior World Cup in Tucson this year to give him a feel of real competition.
The latest find of Indian shooting then topped the national trials, pushing Manavjit to second spot, but obviously, the veteran shooter was still the favourite on Monday. But the jinx continued for Manav.
“My father thought my fascination for shooting would end sooner rather than later. But I started liking the sport,” said Lakshya. A second-year student at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, the Jind boy has raised expectations in the mixed trap event that will be held on Tuesday. Shreyasi Singh is his partner. Hope the jiving and celebrations continue on Tuesday.
