Suma Shirur made one-on-one trips to Tokyo over the span of months. His second appearance at the Paralympics 2020 Japan was as the personal coach of 19-year-old Avani Lekha. The para shooter made his coach proud with a gold medal in the 10m rifle standings SH1 and a bronze medal in the TM3-position, winning two medals in four events. Koch, an Olympian and one-time world record holder in the 10m rifle for capable shooters in Athens in 2004, went to Tokyo in July 2021 as one of the coaches of the rifle shooting squad and went home without a medal. Shooting.
Avani Lekhara – India’s Golden Girl at Tokyo Paralympics
The return of the Paralympic 2020 squad was in idyllic conditions, golden moments at the shooting range included gold medals by Avni and Manish Narwal (50m Mixed Pistol SH1), the Indian anthem played twice when the shooting champs received their medals. The founder of Lakshya Shooting Club in Panvel, near Mumbai, Suma felt delighted when Avni, a student from Jaipur, hoisted the tricolor at the closing ceremony, an honor for para shooting that earned two gold, one silver and two bronze.
Excerpts from a conversation with Coach on Journey with a Brave Teenager Who First Overcame the Horrors of a Car Accident to Live in a Wheelchair and Make the Nation Proud.
Avni Lekhara’s performance in the 10m rifle marked the beginning of the medal hunt. Your views on India are reflected in Tokyo….
The 10m rifle is always the first event in shooting. A good performance by rifle shooters creates a wave of confidence in other shooters. Avani’s gold medal made an impact, equaling the world record. Everyone was on the highs, the Indian team was on the highs. It’s a beautiful feeling, a contestant has done it, and so it boosts morale in others. They know that this (winning a medal) can be done by them too. The first medal makes a difference. Like the Olympics for able-bodied shooters, the Paralympics is about as high as it can get. Competitively, with more countries participating in the Olympics or Paralympics than in the World Championships, the pressure is of a different kind. A nation watching, waiting for a medal, is the pressure of expectation, which develops over time for the Games, knowing that the public is taken into account. Qualifying is a high point, to get there, it is better to handle the pressure and do your best.
Indian shooters won medals in rifle and pistol, with debutants winning two gold medals (Avni Lekhara in rifle and Manish Narwal in pistol at Paralympics 2020.
As far as Para Games are concerned, India has never even got a quota place (qualifying place). From the first one-time shooter, which I believe was a wildcard, 10 Indians qualified for Tokyo, which is unique in itself. The feeling for me is like the 2004 Athens Olympic Games when in shooting, India had so many qualifiers at the same time (Suma Shirur entered the 10m air rifle final for the first time). My association with para shooting was due to Avani Lekhara being a personal coach. I was also the rifle coach of the team. Before Tokyo, at a camp for shooters, I noticed that the sentiment towards the attendees was positive, even among first-time players. They were going to win, not to participate. When we returned to the Olympic Village with a 10m gold by Avni, our feelings among the Indians had changed. Each one was determined to do their best (he added to the table with a bronze in the 50m3 position).
It is an honor for the athlete and her sport to be chosen as India’s flag bearer for the Tokyo closing ceremony.
I felt, very proud to be part of the journey with him. The journey was unexpected, I never dreamed that a shooter trained by you would be crowned champion in your first event at the Paralympics, then chosen to carry the second medal and flag. I was never a part of a closing ceremony, as the shoot was over earlier and we left the game for home, nor the opening ceremony as our schedules were so close to start.
After Avani’s double medal, did the Tokyo 2020 Olympics look brighter than when you came here as the High-Performance Rifle Coach?
I am very happy that I am back here (for the Paralympics) and will return in a positive way. I needed it and it has given me the energy to look ahead and plan for the next three years (2024 Olympics in Paris).
Like para shooters, Olympic shooters also faced the heat of competition. Looking at Tokyo’s performance by capable shooters, what held us back?
Certainly a lot of expectations, the dynamics were completely different (for Olympic shooters). We are working on it, trying to figure out what needs to be done here and there, will be ready for display soon. It would be wrong to comment on my part. I would say we have done something right, otherwise India would not have many shooters of such a high standard (qualified for Tokyo 2020).
Can you tell the difference between para shooting and normal shooting?
There are many other aspects involved in para shooting. The body is not ready, unlike an Olympic shooter where the lower body is the base and everything is seated on the lower body. When you don’t have a functional lower body, it’s all about embracing the entire game of shooting on your upper body. It was a slow ride in the beginning, until I figured out the weak points in his body and then together, we went ahead with it.
Competitive sport, especially shooting, globally boils down to mind games….
The mind is very powerful, having endured so much in life was a bundle of nerves, self-doubt. There was a lot of negativity in the beginning, gradually as she got better technically, her mind also became clear. In the end, it was about working with her self-confidence.
What does Paralympic gold mean to you as a coach… in the context of your student Avni’s debut?
Gold medals have a special place for able-bodied or para shooters. This is the goal of every contestant and achieving it is amazing for Avni. This is the result of working closely with us since 2018. It is very satisfying to sleep with and for him during the ups and downs. She wanted me to be with her here in Tokyo. I wanted to be with him in the final stages and make sure of it. I couldn’t have asked for more.
Did you need to make as much adjustment, technical and mental, while working?
Coaching Avni has been a tough job, which I have never done before. I have the knowledge, experience, expertise to work with competent shooters. I’ve done all my life, post retirement from competition. Complementing all that while working with a para shooter was challenging, it took me a while to accept the assignment.
Can you elaborate on the adjustments you need to make as a coach?
Avni’s father approached me in 2017, I was unprepared, and then in 2018 when he approached me again, I decided to see him (as a shooter), take a session and decide. After meeting her, I realized that she was very sweet. I just fell in love with him and regretted why I didn’t say yes (to coaching him) earlier. Since then it has been a challenge to apply the scientific method of shooting to para-athletes. You have to be technically very strong to be able to do it, under pressure. I love the experience, although it has been challenging.
Abhinav Bindra is considered his inspiration for excellence in shooting. He chose the right achievement…
Being a gold medalist in the rifle event, it certainly helps to know that he has done it, so it can be done by him. Everyone needs inspiration, Avni chose the right one.
As a training partner with Abhinav Bindra prior to Athens 2004, what did you find unforgettable about him?
The quality Abhinav Bindra is remembered for is his attention to detail. Every athlete is different, as a coach I have to first understand the shooter and decide what suits the individual based on temperament. Abhinav’s style is not such that every aspiring shooter can imbibe it, it is very special for him.
The medal winners of the Tokyo Games are still in a celebratory mood…. Any thoughts on appreciating the winners?
I must say that the interaction of our Prime Minister with our athletes has given him a great boost. I am talking about the entire Olympic and Paralympic movement. It made people stand up and take notice, showing their appreciation a little more. This is very important, especially for a para-athlete.
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