'I will try and win a medal for my daughter'

Deepali Deshpande is a mother, wife and daughter-in-law. 

In a few days from now, she will also be an Olympian.

The Maharashtra shooter will compete in the 50 metre Three-position event along with Anjali Bhagwat at the Athens Games.

Her greatest motivation to do well at the Olympics is her family.

"I am a little easygoing, not very ambitious. But when I think of my family, I realise they are doing everything in their power to make things easier for me. So when they are doing their best, I have to produce some results. That's the only way I can repay their trust."

Shooting, unlike the general notion of the sport, is very technical; even the slightest change in stance or posture can distract one's concentration from the bull's-eye.

The only way to make sure you don't commit mistakes in competition is by going through the grind, which is spending lots of time at the shooting range and repeating the exercise until it all becomes mechanical.

Deepali confesses that when she practices she is always accompanied by a sense of guilt.

Her daughter Reva is only two-and-a-half years old and as a mother she cannot be there for her at all times. Shooting just doesn't allow that, she says modestly.

Also Read 'At Moscow we proved the pundits wrong' 'I was surprised by the strength I possessed' 'I know I have a chance' 'Aap toh machine hai'

"When I was a child my mother was always there for me, any time of the day. That's what an ideal mother should do. I know I can't do that. So the guilt is always there. But it motivates me immensely. I will try and win a medal for my daughter. That's the least I can do."

Deepali qualified for the Olympics quota in the 10th Asian Shooting Championships in February. She finished sixth in the Rifle Three-Position event with a score of 666.9 (qualifying score 571/600), and earned the quota berth as the first four shooters, from Kazakhstan, China and Korea, had already qualified for the Olympics.

"I am not scared of the Olympics. I know I shoot well under pressure. So I am looking forward to going there. I had to make a lot of changes in my position since getting the quota place, as there was not enough time to make the changes gradually. I have to make a huge jump in competition to stand a chance at Athens.

"I am hoping I settle down as soon as possible. I want to go through that pressure and the excitement."

With no technical coach to help them make changes in stance or posture, Indian shooters are left to their own devices, and changes usually happen haphazardly, by trial and error.

"That problem is even bigger for the Rifle Three-position event.

"After I qualified for the event, I desperately felt the need for a coach. There are so many factors that we are handling simultaneously. It's inhuman. You cannot handle everything single-handedly. You need someone to keep reminding you about certain things and only a coach can do that," says Deepali.

"The chief coach, Sunny Thomas, gives a lot of moral support but he cannot help in technical matters. Shooting is an individual sport. You learn from your own mistakes. So if you keep your mind alert, you can quickly realise what you are doing wrong," she adds.

Deepali's journey in the world of shooting has been one of trial and error.

She started like most other Indian women shooters in the 10 metre Air Rifle before shifting to the 50 metre Rifle Three-position event.

As for the Olympics, she is realistic and believes she is nowhere near what it takes to strike gold.

"Everyone wants to win the gold. Realistically, I am nowhere near. But there are very few things that need to be rectified. If they can be done then I can shoot up to that level. So I am hoping for improvement and medals."

Winning is just not about how big or strong one is, it is said; it the heart that matters.

Deepali certainly has it.