'Indians like mentally stimulating games'

NEW DELHI: Double trap shooter Vikram Bhatnagar, a recipient of Delhi's Rajiv Gandhi State Sports Awards, believes that contrary to popular belief, sports like shooting get good backing from the government.

"I am in the opposite camp of people who say that sports doesn't get enough encouragement from the government. In fact I believe that sports like shooting are well encouraged by the media, the corporate world and the government," he said.

He also believes that Indians, in general, are attracted towards mentally stimulating games.

"Games like chess and shooting are mentally stimulating games. I think, we as a nation, are more cerebrally inclined towards such games," Bhatnagar, told.

He was ranked number 10 in Asia and 32 in the world on April 1 this year.

He has a number of medals and other honours under his belt, but Bhatnagar believes his continued good performance last year earned him the Rajiv Gandhi State Sports Award Aug 20 this year, which is like icing on the cake.

"This award is primarily an acknowledgement of my performance last year. In September last year, in the coveted Asian Clay Shooting Championships in Singapore, we, in the Indian Double Trap Team, won the gold medal.

"Then in December, at the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, we won the silver medal," he said.

He also won the silver medal in the Men's Double Trap (Pairs) with noted shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

On the lines of the Arjuna awards for excellence in sports given by the government of India, the administration of Delhi presents the Rajiv Gandhi State Sports awards in the age group of 14 years and above.

The award carries a cash prize of Rs.200,000, a citation and a befitting memento.

Unlike most other sports personalities who nurture an interest in a particular game since early childhood and hone their skills, Bhatnagar took up shooting at a much later stage - though he had a fascination for air guns since early childhood.

"I used to skate as a young boy. Since I am all for individual sport, I tried my hands at golf after that. But it is shooting which got me hooked. When I decided to take it up professionally, I was 29," Bhatnagar smiled.

But age, as he said, was hardly a deterrent given his passion for the game.

"I am a regular guy who runs his own business now. But I take out time to practice my game and master it. It needs dedication and loads of hard work," he said.

An LLB from the Delhi University Law College, Bhatnagar's day starts with shooting practice in the mornings after which he goes for work. By the time he retires, it's late night.

"Most people would rather spend a thousand bucks over the weekend going drinking in a pub rather than spending Rs.200 for a sport which is much more rejuvenating.

"But I am happy with the kids these days who are showing a lot of interest towards games. I see a lot of kids in the shooting ring on weekends. There are many schools which are now introducing air rifle shooting in their campuses besides the usual games like basketball and cricket," he said.

Bhatnagar said there is an overdose of cricket in the minds of people, and as a result the focus is shifting towards less popular games like hockey, chess and shooting.

"Cricket is a game which drives the nation. It is a predominant sport, no doubt, but one of the primary reasons behind this is the active marketing done by the cricket board. There is a difference between sports entertainment and actual game.

"That's why a lot of games which are in the Commonwealth Games, in the Olympic and the Asian Games are now coming up here," he said.