At 28, Sandeep, a Naib Subedar in the Indian Army, discovered his passion for shooting while training with rifles.His service in the Indian Army has taken him to demanding environments like the Siachen glacier, where he has honed his skills and mental fortitude.
He was a reserve for the Tokyo Olympics but unfortunately didn’t make the final team.
Perhaps life had different plans for Sandeep.
Sandeep distinguished himself in the men’s 10m Air Rifle event during the 2024 Paris Olympics trials, competing against established quota holders. Across four trials in Delhi and Bhopal, he consistently topped the charts with an average final score exceeding his competitors. His qualification scores—634.4, 632.6, 631.6, and 628.3 out of a possible 654—demonstrate remarkable consistency and technical acumen.
He never looked out of place, ideas, or depth, and now stands on the brink of representing the nation at the Olympics as part of the largest-ever shooting contingent (23 members) India has sent for the Olympic Games to date. Sandeep’s recent performances have caught everyone’s attention and it has ensured his meteoric rise. Though, he has not let that attention and rise to deter his long-term goal.
Ahead of the mega event, Sandeep himself remains humble and focused. In an exclusive chat with TimesofIndia.com, he shared, “Mere dimaag mein yeh hai ki jo main apni training karta hu ussi ko achche se present kar paau (My goal is to effectively present what I have practised during my training sessions).”
“Medal toh baad ki baat hai. Jab performance achcha hoga tab medal bhi aayega (The thought of a medal comes later. When the performances are good, the medal will follow too),” added Sandeep.
To prepare for high-pressure situations, Sandeep and his team practice meditation, focus exercises, and physical training. “We practice meditation and work on our focus. We also do physical training,” the shooter revealed.
During training, he practices amid artificial crowd noise to acclimate to the pressure he’ll face at the Games.
“We are trained a bit differently, like having the crowd noise behind us to create an environment similar to what it would be like in the Olympics,” he explained.
Was the training enough? The moment of truth is imminent. Yet, his philosophy remains clear and unwavering. “I focus only on my situation and look ahead to see how to take the next shot,” he told TimesofIndia.com.
As the countdown to Paris begins, all eyes are stuck on Sandeep, wondering if his exceptional trial performance will translate to Olympic glory.
