Apurvi Chandela really deserved to be number one, believes Anjum Moudgil
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Anjum Moudgil is of the belief that Apurvi Chandela deserved to be the world no. 1 in ISSF rankings for women's 10m air rifle event and appreciated Chandela’s hard work. Moudgil, who is currently ranked world no. 2, has also said that there is no rivalry at all between her and Chandela.
In the recent International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) rankings for the women’s 10m air rifle event, two Indian shooters Apurvi Chandela and Anjum Moudgil are at the first and second place respectively. Moudgil is at her career best rankings and she is happy to see Chandela at the top with two shooters as the best in the world as per the current rankings.
“I would really appreciate how hard-working Apurvi is, so she really deserved to be number one. I am really happy for her and being number two also feels really good. I think all the good matches we played for India and winning all the medals, it really paid off. It feels good to be at the top. I hope all the events have tri-colours (at top of the rankings),” Moudgil told TOI.
“It's not rivalry at all. Apurvi and I always want to stay together. There's so much we talk about and stay calm at the same time. I think there are many things (that are) common between me and Apurvi, like not talking much but also talking (amongst ourselves) at the same time. So I think it's really good we train together and see each other growing. She is enjoying her journey and I am enjoying mine. It's all about the game and the experiences we share.”
The 25-year-old Moudgil had managed to win a silver medal at the 2018 CWG in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions event and two silver medals (team and individual) in 10m air rifle event at the World Championships. She managed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics 2020 during the World Championships last year. Moudgil is currently working hard to improve her performance ahead of the 2020 Games and is working on her weaknesses.
“I think I would consider it good for me that I won a quota as soon as possible (at Changwon World Championships in 2018). But it's not that I am only playing for medals now or I don't have anything else to work on. I am working on how I can improve my performance and work on my weaknesses. Even if I don't get a medal in any World Cup, if I am 100 percent happy with what I shot, I am satisfied. It's not just about the medals or winning a quota,” the Indian shooter explained.
“I started shooting when they were winning medals (smiles). So I think I started late. When we were young and came into the junior squad, even we had restrictions on using phones, not going out, sleeping on time, etc. So it's just a matter of age. I have been shooting now for 10 years. It took me around 5 to 6 years to understand how important it is to be disciplined and how important it is to follow what the coach says. It's all about knowing that and then following it. So experience actually matters there.”
Apart from the foreign coach for all Indian shooters Oleg Mikhaylov, Moudgil also has Deepali Deshpande as her personal coach. According to Moudgil, having a personal coach is an advantage but at the same time, she also mentioned that Mikhaylov gives 100 per cent to all the Indian shooters. Moudgil is also of the opinion that shooters who don’t have a personal coach shouldn’t think that it is a disadvantage.
“Yes it does, but it doesn't mean that if you don't have a personal coach and only a team coach, it's a disadvantage, no. Like for us, the foreign coach we have for the Indian team (Oleg Mikhaylov), it's really helpful for all the athletes. It's not that people who don't have a personal coach actually lack something. He (Oleg) is giving 100 percent to everyone. I do have a personal coach (Deepali Deshpande). It is an advantage because I can personally ask something and be more open about something if I really have a doubt, but that's what I do even with my team coach. It is an advantage but shouldn't be considered a disadvantage for people who don't have a personal coach,” Moudgil mentioned.
