New Delhi, Indian shooter Sandeep Singh's steely determination to fight his inner demons and come back stronger as a sports shooter came in the harsh environment of Siachen, the world's highest battlefield, where he endured temperatures as low as -40 degrees C. and stayed in a tent cooking his own food like a caveman.
Sandeep, the 10m air rifle shooter, who showed great determination to hold on in the face of tough challenge from rival shooters to win the Olympic selection trials and secure a place in Paris earlier this year, said that working in a difficult environment it will help you. achieve success in Paris.
"It's like you are alone in a snowy desert at -40 degrees C. You also have to prepare the food alone in the camp," said Sandeep, 28, on the sidelines of the farewell ceremony for the Indian athletes bound for Paris. and the presentation of the contingent's kits here on Sunday.
Sandeep, who overcame the challenge of world champion shooter Rudrankksh Patil in the trials to secure a place in Paris, said the atmosphere in Siachen, however, gave him "time" to think about how to return to the national team.
Sandeep was a reserve shooter for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, but a drop in form after that led to Havildar being sent back to his unit. He was posted to Siachen for six months between 2021 and 2022.
"That was the time when I had time to think, to contemplate my future... what I have to do in the future and how to improve my shooting skills," said Sandeep, who comes from a lower-middle-class family with the father of him. working as a day laborer and his two brothers working as bicycle mechanics.
"I don't come from a sports family. I used to run cross-country twice a day for 7-8 km in my village in Faridkot district to join the army. My younger brother was not so lucky. He and My elder brother is now a bicycle mechanic," added Sandeep, who was recruited into the army as a sepoy.
"Before I got the job in the army, I did everything from being a laborer to doing day labor."
Sandeep quickly seized the opportunity and his first foray into shooting came with an INSAS rifle, an assault rifle, which also doubles as a light machine gun.
"During the INSAS rifle training I did very well and my superiors said they should give me opportunities in the shooting sport. There I also did well, winning medals in competitions at the Army Marksmanship Unit in Mhow."
Sandeep's success in Mhow paved the way for his entry into the national team.
"I was selected for the National Championship and won a silver in 2018. Thanks to the medal I became a Havildar and entered the national team. I played about a dozen international competitions and was also a reserve for the Tokyo Olympics." he Add.
Sandeep says he simply stuck to his task at the Olympic Selection Trials in April-May this year, relying solely on his process and years of training to secure a place in Paris.
"I only told myself during training before the selection trials that I needed to raise the level of my concentration and maintain it for a long period. That was my only goal," he said, adding that he still enjoys the same camaraderie with Rudrankksh Patil. , the shooting champion whom he beat to get the job in Paris.
"I have all the respect for Rudrankksh. But what they taught me in training I applied in the competition. I haven't been able to talk to him after the tests, but we are still good teammates," he said.
Sandeep, the 10m air rifle shooter, who showed great determination to hold on in the face of tough challenge from rival shooters to win the Olympic selection trials and secure a place in Paris earlier this year, said that working in a difficult environment it will help you. achieve success in Paris.
"It's like you are alone in a snowy desert at -40 degrees C. You also have to prepare the food alone in the camp," said Sandeep, 28, on the sidelines of the farewell ceremony for the Indian athletes bound for Paris. and the presentation of the contingent's kits here on Sunday.
Sandeep, who overcame the challenge of world champion shooter Rudrankksh Patil in the trials to secure a place in Paris, said the atmosphere in Siachen, however, gave him "time" to think about how to return to the national team.
Sandeep was a reserve shooter for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, but a drop in form after that led to Havildar being sent back to his unit. He was posted to Siachen for six months between 2021 and 2022.
"That was the time when I had time to think, to contemplate my future... what I have to do in the future and how to improve my shooting skills," said Sandeep, who comes from a lower-middle-class family with the father of him. working as a day laborer and his two brothers working as bicycle mechanics.
"I don't come from a sports family. I used to run cross-country twice a day for 7-8 km in my village in Faridkot district to join the army. My younger brother was not so lucky. He and My elder brother is now a bicycle mechanic," added Sandeep, who was recruited into the army as a sepoy.
"Before I got the job in the army, I did everything from being a laborer to doing day labor."
Sandeep quickly seized the opportunity and his first foray into shooting came with an INSAS rifle, an assault rifle, which also doubles as a light machine gun.
"During the INSAS rifle training I did very well and my superiors said they should give me opportunities in the shooting sport. There I also did well, winning medals in competitions at the Army Marksmanship Unit in Mhow."
Sandeep's success in Mhow paved the way for his entry into the national team.
"I was selected for the National Championship and won a silver in 2018. Thanks to the medal I became a Havildar and entered the national team. I played about a dozen international competitions and was also a reserve for the Tokyo Olympics." he Add.
Sandeep says he simply stuck to his task at the Olympic Selection Trials in April-May this year, relying solely on his process and years of training to secure a place in Paris.
"I only told myself during training before the selection trials that I needed to raise the level of my concentration and maintain it for a long period. That was my only goal," he said, adding that he still enjoys the same camaraderie with Rudrankksh Patil. , the shooting champion whom he beat to get the job in Paris.
"I have all the respect for Rudrankksh. But what they taught me in training I applied in the competition. I haven't been able to talk to him after the tests, but we are still good teammates," he said.
