"Pressure situations we face during trials will help in Olympics" - Anjum Moudgil targets Paris Olympics podium

Former World No. 1 rifle shooter Anjum Moudgil has been out of the national set-up for a good part of the three-year Olympic cycle before bouncing back in time to secure her Paris Olympics berth for another shot at the podium.

The forthcoming Paris Olympics, starting July 26, will be the 30-year-old Anjum’s second appearance at the Summer Games after a nightmarish outing in Tokyo. She competed in 50m rifle 3 positions and 10m air rifle mixed team event to finish 15th and 18th, respectively.

But the setbacks made her stronger as she returned with a handful of medals in the World Cups and went on to attain the numero uno position.

“The scenario was entirely different three years ago, we were away training in Croatia for a good couple of months. Due to COVID-19, there was no surety, as one might wake up in the morning and test positive, leaving you in the confines of your room for days,” Anjum said in a virtual interview with Sportskeeda.

“Exactly one year after Tokyo, I went on to win a few medals at the World Cups and rose to the World No. 1 spot, and things started working for me again. During that time, I started working on my mental training, and it really worked out positively. I’m trying to carry that positivity to Paris,” she added.

Anjum Moudgil using setbacks to gather herself back for a stellar comeback

For the Chandigarh shooter, things, however, weren’t as rosy in the next couple of years as she found herself out of the national team for the Worlds and the Asian Games due to inconsistent form. The 2018 World Championships silver medalist used the phase constructively and continued working on the mental aspect.

“Looking back, I can say all those experiences helped me find the Anjum Moudgil again. I got the focus back on giving my best in trials, and the most important thing of all was that I stayed positive. I used my experience of the past 15 years to great use and that mental training helped me to retain my focus even in tense situations,” she explained.

In contrast to Tokyo, where she was a part of two events, Anjum will be competing only in the 50m Rifle 3 positions this time.

“There are positive and negative sides to it, but I am happy. In Tokyo, the situation was completely different from what it is now. The competition is very high in India and the pressure situations we face during trials will definitely help in the Olympics,” she said.

Anjum feels that the presence of familiar faces in the contingent helped in team bonding (Credit: NRAI)

Mentally Fit Helpline has been a positive step

Anjum also spoke about the importance of mental health issues while appreciating the International Olympic Committee’s efforts in setting up the Mentally Fit Helpline. It is a dedicated, independent and confidential mental health counselling service available to all athletes accredited for the Paris Games.

“I think it’s a positive step to see mental helpline being introduced in Paris Olympics. It’s (mental health) so important for all the federations and IOC to understand the mental side, understand how it works for an athlete, understand mental toughness. It’s a common issue which isn’t only restricted to sports but in all aspects of life,” she said.

An avid painter, Anjum is happy to restart painting after getting out of the tough phase, during which she focused too much on her shooting before eventually losing her place in the team.

“Yes, I realised that painting helped me unwind, and it was something which I was missing out. Now it has again become a part of my shooting routine,” she said.

Team bonding and support from youngsters

India has named a strong 21-member shooting team for Paris Games, comprising a number of youngsters, especially from Punjab and Haryana, including 22-year-old Sift Kaur Samra who will be competing alongside Anjum in 50m 3p event.

Anjum feels that the presence of familiar faces in the contingent helped in team bonding — an essential part of a mentally-draining sport like sport. She also credited the push from youngsters like Sift, for her to eventually clear the trials and earn the Paris berth.

“I’ve learned so many things from them. It’s a good mix of youngsters, and it also helps when you have familiar faces in the contingent. It’s not about a particular state or a region, but again most of us are from either Punjab or Haryana, and speak a common language, which also works out in expressing ourselves,” she said.

The shooting competitions of the Paris Olympics will be held at the National Shooting Center in Châteauroux, the capital city of the French department of Indre, central France, which is approximately 270km from Paris. The Indian contingent, currently in Luxembourg for the last phase of training and preparation, will head to Châteauroux on July 21.