Goldplay: Gagan remains unbeaten

Makes a hat-trick of wins at the Games by topping podium in the rifle 3-Position pairs event with compatriot Imran Hassan Khan

For a layperson,it is hard to tell the difference between good and great during the course of 3-Position rifle event. The digital tele-screens hanging above the prostrating shooters dont really give away much. Although the black target cube including a clear view of the white concentric circles is magnified with great picture quality on each of the screens,the accuracy spots are not of much help. Riddling the target with a constant expression of daze,a shooters body language does not leave any clues to who is leading. Forget the fist pumps and high fives,these men with guns do not even break into a smile,or a frown.

But once the match is over and the customary handshakes are out of the way,it is easy to spot the floating cream from the rest of the milk,as was the case at the Karni Singh Shooting Range on Friday. While the medalists celebrated their respective countrys victory in the pairs event and the losers huffed out in disappointment,Gagan Narang focused with utmost precision at the job at hand: packing up his jacket and equipment.

While the English and the Scottish (second and third respectively) wrapped up their kits and were out in a real hurry,Narangs celebrations were put on hold. Even a third gold medal in as many events wasnt enough to quickly wrap up the annoying routine.

With an individual score of 1167 (397 in prone,385 in both standing and kneeling),Narang topped the participants list. And along with Imran Hassan Khan,who scored 1158,the Indian duo comfortably pulled off the pairs event as Indias total (Narang + Imran) of 2325 pipped out England by 17 points.

Despite the congratulations all around,not once did he break his concentration from the pleats,folds,creases and collars. The action took about quarter of an hour to complete,before he got down to dismantling his gun. Everything from the barrels to the magazine to the pellet box was dusted and cleaned by him,before being neatly tucked into the rifle case. Only once the work was complete did Narang look up and break into a smile,waving to the patiently waiting crowds. Its not hard to see why Narang is a few gunshots away from achieving his fourth gold of the Delhi Games. For everything he does through the rifle-lense or away from it,precision comes first. Just like his podium standings.