Gagan Narang

OT: Which cities have you grown up in?

Gagan Narang: I have lived across India — my education was in Hyderabad, holidays in Delhi and now you’ll find me in Pune.

OT: Any childhood memories of family holidays?

Gagan Narang: I remember our trip to Kashmir distinctly…the shikara ride on the Dal lake, shopping for lotus stems and flowers from the peddlers on boats and visiting the Chashma-e-Shahi garden. I also recall going to the Shankaracharya temple on a hill overlooking the Dal.

OT: Your first shooting competition abroad…

Gagan Narang: It was in 2002 in Suhl, Germany. Our hotel was on top of a mountain and the range was enveloped in green. I remember winning a silver medal back then.

OT: Now that you have that other coveted medal [a bronze at the London Olympics], are you planning to take a break? What’s on your wish list?

Gagan Narang: There are many destinations I’d love to go to, such as Kailash Mansarovar, Ladakh and some places abroad. But right now, I need to gear up for the competitions that are coming up. The next one is in Bangkok. Let’s see if my coach allows me to visit some of the islands in and around Thailand after the tournament.

OT: Did you do any sightseeing at all at the Olympics?

Gagan Narang: No. I had three competitions, so I couldn’t have stepped out. But we were in London for the ISSF World Cup, just before the Olympics. That’s when I explored the city.

OT: The most picturesque shooting range…

Gagan Narang: Most of them are set in beautiful locations. If I must name one, I’d say the range in Changwon, South Korea.

OT: What kind of holiday helps you unwind?

Gagan Narang: I like to go out with friends. And when company is hard to find, I travel alone and soak in the local flavour…like when I was competing in Milan recently, I made a quick trip to Florence for a cup of espresso!

OT: What do you bring back from your holidays?

Gagan Narang: I get a shot glass and a fridge magnet for my collection.

OT: Your worst trip?

Gagan Narang: When I lost my passport at Madrid airport thirty minutes before my flight home! I was coming from the World Cup final in Granada. It was horrible, especially since I didn’t speak their language. The Indian embassy helped me get another passport. But I had to spend a night there, which, trust me, was quite an adventure, as I was travelling with my shooting equipment.

OT: Five things you always carry…

Gagan Narang: Besides the usual travel documents, I carry my hiking shoes, camera, smartphone (with a navigator app), sunscreen and water.