RISHABH PAREKH, OP
Bhubaneswar: A 10-day Rifle High-Performance Camp concluded at the Shooting High-Performance Centre (HPC), Kalinga Stadium here, under the guidance of ISSF ‘A’-accredited coach Neha Chavan. Chavan, who has a proven track record of producing Olympic athletes, World Champions and national and international medallists, worked with the Shooting HPC athletes on their fundamentals and shooting postures during the intensive camp. She has coached Olympians Elavenil Valarivan and Ramita Jindal, Deaflympic champion Dhanush Srikanth and several international shooters who have collectively won 95 international medals. She has also spent years mentoring Read’s young shooter Kashika Pradhan, helping her develop and elevate her performances. At the camp’s concluding ceremony, Chavan was felicitated for her valuable guidance. The event was also attended by chief guest BK Swain, DSYS Additional Secretary, along with Purushottam Panga, coach; Dipak Kumar Sahoo, Shooting HPC Manager Operations; and Ashish Kumar Rout, Officer on Special Duty.
Reflecting on her experience at the camp, Chavan told the young athletes: “When you miss one shot, it does not mean things will change. Your process is going to be the same, and it needs to be worked on again to get that shot right. You have to accept it and keep going forward.” Addressing the challenges athletes face during training, she added: “Comfort is for home. At training, you are supposed to feel nervous and anxious. You must learn to deal with it over and over again, no matter what. This is what makes an Olympian.” The young shooters also presented Chavan with gifts and mementos as a gesture of appreciation for her time and guidance. The camp concluded after 10 days of intensive training, with the Shooting HPC continuing its efforts to develop young shooters into technically sound and competitive athletes.