Gagan has worked very hard for his Olympic medal, says father BS Narang

The Olympic medal hasn’t come up easy for Gagan, says his father BS Narang. “Success never comes easy. He has worked very hard for this medal,” BS Narang, the shooter’s father, told DNA. “A medal at the Olympics was the only thing he hadn’t achieved. But he’s finally done it now,” Narang Sr said from Hyderabad.

“When Gagan took up shooting in 1996, things were difficult. And it wasn’t easy to get the equipment. Apart from the cost of the rifle, importing it was another big hurdle. I had to sell a plot of land to buy a rifle for him. But things have changed now,” the proud father said, before adding, “But I feel every parent would do that for his child and so did I.”

Meanwhile a report in The Hindu says that there was an unusual sense of calm in B.S. Narang’s body language even as he was glued to the television set watching his son Gagan take the final aim during the 10m Air Rifle event at London. As Gagan clinched India’s first medal in this edition of the Olympics, you know from where the burly shooter has inherited composure that is so required in a precision event such as shooting.

“If he calls me, I will congratulate him and tell him to do well in the next two events. He still has two more events left on August 3 and 6 (50m Rifle 3-Position & 50m Rifle prone). He should concentrate on those two events,” senior Narang stated in a composed manner as media persons jostled for some sound bytes at their residence here.

Narang senior did admit that they had expected Gagan to bring laurels for the country after he had a disappointing result in Beijing four years ago where he failed to qualify for the final. “It’s a good achievement. Although we expected gold but this is also very good. It will certainly boost his morale for the remaining two events,” he said.

Gagan's father admitted that there is always pressure to perform in big ticket events but it is something that comes as a package for professionals, says a report in The Times Of India. Adding that "In any sphere there is pressure and one needs to live with it. Even parents put pressure on their children."

The shooter's mom said that they never put any undue pressure on their famous son. "When he left for London, we just wished him 'All the best' and told him to give his best shot. We have never interfered in his training."

Meanwhile happiness knew no bounds in a small village of Panipat as the news of Gagan Narang's win in the London Olympics started trickling. The residents of Shimla Gujran in Bapoli block of Panipat congratulated each other, distributed sweets and burst firecrackers as their son of the soil had made them proud. The Narangs had left their Panipat village some 35 years back to settle down in Hyderabad but the villagers still fondly remember the family and consider Monday's win to be a special occasion. Gagan's parents, father Bhim Sen Narang and mother Amarjeet, shifted to Hyderabad before Narang's birth, but the family still owns agriculture land here.