Gaurav Sharma eyes medal at 36th Delhi State Shooting Championship

CHANDIGARH: World champion powerlifter Gaurav Sharma, who recently switched to shooting, is aiming for a medal at the ongoing 36th Delhi State Shooting Championship, that started on Monday at the Manav Rachna Shooting Ranges in Haryana.
Gaurav, who had earlier won the bronze medal in the 10m Arm shooting event at the Khelo Masters Games 2019-2020 in Ghaziabad, will be seen taking part in the double trap event at the Delhi State Shooting championship.
Excited about the event, Gaurav said, "After lockdown this is my first event. I am really happy with it. I want to give my best. My coach Falaq Sher Alam is guiding me well."
Commenting on his decision to take up shooting, Gaurav said, "Shooting is something that helps me keep calm. I will try to participate in more shooting competitions now."
Gaurav, who took up powerlifting at the age of 17, is a giant of the sport. He had won two gold medals at the European Championships in 2019. "For any athlete it is an honour to represent India and when the tricolour goes high, you can't express that feeling," Gaurav said.
The Delhi athlete had also clinched two gold medals at the 2016 World Powerlifting Championships in England. In 2007, he won four gold medals at the Commonwealth Championships in New Zealand.
Initially starting out as a weightlifter, Gaurav later switched to powerlifting under the guidance of Dronacharya awardee coach Bhupender Dhawan.