National chief rifle coach Joydeep Karmakar feels like an athlete again

Joydeep Karmakar, a decade after he missed a bronze by a whisker at the 2012 London Olympics. Back with the Indian team as the chief national rifle coach till June 2025, a tenure that will include the 2024 Paris Olympics, Karmakar feels like an "athlete again". "When I landed in Delhi, I could feel myself as an athlete now -- as if I'm gearing up to compete again, that same eagerness, passion is back again," the 42-year-old, who will officially take charge of the shooting camp from Monday, told PTI.

Indian shooters had a never-before 15 quota places in the Tokyo Games last year, but the likes of Manu Bhakers and Saurabh Chaudharys drew a blank, bringing focus on their mental preparation to cope with the Olympics pressure. "It's a huge responsibility. It would be a lie if I would say I'm not nervous, as it's just a little more than two years to Paris.

The quota distribution will begin in four months' time," he said with a sense of confidence. Having declined to take up a similar role three years back, Karmakar was picked after a full-fledged interview process that went on for three-four months. "It's very challenging, definitely.

But what's there in life without challenges. I know many of these guys as young shooters. Maybe a few fresh faces have come up.

"I will use the next two weeks to understand their mindset. We have to see what ideas they have for shooting. A good coach should also know where to stop." In the 50m rifle 3-position, Aishwary Pratap Singh has grabbed headlines with a gold in the first World Cup of the year where the 20-year-old defeated world champions to climb up in the world rankings.