People have plans for their life and so does life, but whether or not they have figured out how to get going towards their new journey, some individuals have already reached the finish line, further planning how to get started for the next level. Only a few get the chance to show the world what they have accomplished or the power that lies in their abilities. Standing strong on that accord by winning gold in shooting at this year’s Tokyo Paralympics is 19 year old Manish Narwal. Although Manish aimed to score his goal at the football court, destiny had it that this young star would shine bright as a pistol shooter, which he did exactly that, and thus a star was born.
Conferring him a gold medal for Mixed 50m Pistol SH1 event is not only a recognition he earned for himself, but his efforts along with the others has reshaped India’s history in Paralympics which has won 19 medals. Prior to Tokyo’s Paralympics, the country had 12 medals across the Paralympic games. In fact, the four medals it had won in Rio was by far the most it had ever won. However, India's success in Japan's capital has largely surpassed those figures.
India has more than doubled its record tally of four gold medals from previous Games with five gold in Tokyo moving India up to 24th place in the medal table. With that said, here is the story of one of India’s best shooters, Manish Narwal.
Loved Football but Excelled at Shooting
Manish Narwal's right hand was born with a congenital impairment. He sought solace in football, and he was a huge fan of the sport. Narwal aspired to be a professional in the sport, but his condition made it difficult for him to pursue the sport.
Certain as he was that his career be in sports, it was then his father Dilbagh Narwal, with every faith in his son, supported him by encouraging him to give a shot at every sport possible to help his son find his inner calling.
Then entered a close family companion who suggested the lad try a hand at shooting, which of course Manish’s father took his son to a nearby shooting range at Ballabhgarh. Although initially Manish felt a dislike towards the sport, eventually he felt connected to the sport to the point that he practised and competed with competitors of every sort even before he came to know what paralympics was about.
“I've never been really fond of shooting. Football, wrestling, and athletics were my first passions. I grew up playing games on the open ground. I've always preferred playing outdoor games to indoor games. When I first started playing indoor games, it felt strange at first, but I eventually grew to enjoy them”.
Seeming at how good Manish was at the sport, his talent drew the attention of coach Jai Prakash Nautiyal and from there Manish won many medals at various national levels. Then came the time for Manish to represent India at the 2017 Bangkok World Cup.
He won gold in the P1 - 10m Air Pistol Men SH1 event in Bangkok, setting a Junior World Record in both qualification and finals. In 2017, he also won two medals in the World Para Shooting World Cup in Al Ain.
Winning Gold at Asia’s Para Games, Jakarta
In 2018, he earned India's only shooting gold medal at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, where he set a junior world record in the P1 event and finished second in the P4. He received a quota for Tokyo 2020 when he was only 17 years old.
In the 2019 Osijek World Cup in Croatia, he won gold in the P1, P4, and P6 team events, as well as silver in the P1. At the Para Shooting World Championships in Sydney, he earned three bronze medals in P1 and P4 (individual and team). The next year, he was awarded the Arjuna Award.
Eliminated at Tokyo Paralympics?
Here came COVID-19 slamming the pause button on every event big and small, but nonetheless, the lockdown and other norms did not seem to even leave a dent on Manish’s confidence. As word on the go, during the very first international competition held after the lockdown, Manish was seen looking brilliant by breaking the world record in the 10m air pistol SH1 event at the Para Shooting World Cup in 2021. To make his case as a serious contender at the Paralympics, he broke the previous world record of 229.1 points set by Serbia's Rastko Jokic.
In Tokyo, he conquered his first event, the P1 men's 10m air pistol SH1, to finish first in the qualification stage with 575 points. However, he was eliminated in seventh place in his first final due to a poor start. Adhana, who had won bronze at the time, began by expressing his grief for Narwal before moving on to his own medal. That's the kind of hope the teen shooter held out for.
But the 19 year old shooter shot back his shot and won gold in the Mixed 50m Pistol SH1 event, while Singhraj Adhana took silver.
This is India's third gold medal at the Paralympic Games. Narwal won the gold medal with a score of 218.2, a Paralympic record, while Adhana, who had won bronze in the P1 men's 10m air pistol SH1 event on Tuesday, added a silver with a score of 216.7.
Both Manish and Adhana received appreciation from the nation’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who took it to twitter tweeting, “Glory from the Tokyo Paralympics continues. Great accomplishment by the young and stupendously talented Manish Narwal. His winning the gold medal is a special moment for Indian sports. Congratulations to him. Best wishes for the coming times”.
“The outstanding Singhraj Adhana does it again! He won yet another medal, this time in the Mixed 50m Pistol SH1 event. India rejoices due to his feat. Congrats to him. Wishing him the very best for his future endeavours”, the prime minister said in another tweet.
At the Asaka Shooting Range, Adana qualified for the medal round in fourth position with a total of 536, while Manish qualified in seventh place with a total of 533.