Root cause: T&T shooting champ at home in Delhi

He reels off the names of Bollywood flicks with an unmistakable Caribbean accent.

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He reels off the names of Bollywood flicks with an unmistakable Caribbean accent. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,Chalte Chalte,Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham are some of the movies Justin Chandrasen Lall never gets tired of watching. He still fondly recalls the Sonu Nigams tour of Trinidad and Tobago. The 32-year-old T&T full bore shooter isnt sure which part of India his ancestors came from but said that the moment he landed in New Delhi he felt at home.

Lalls first impressions of India were rather pleasant. I was under the impression that India is a poor country. But during my trip from the airport to the hotel I realised that it is a developed country. At first I had second thoughts about coming to India after hearing about the unfinished Games Village and the shooting incident at the Jama Masjid. But I badly wanted to be at the Games,which is being hosted by the country to which my ancestors belong, Lall told The Indian Express on Saturday.

Lall does not want this visit to be converted into a sightseeing trip. He is a two-time full bore national champion. But the standard of shooting and the infrastructure in T&T is not to Lalls liking. Back home we have just one bench at our shooting range,which is located on farmland. We shooters have to try and make the best possible use of the facilities, Lall said. So it is little surprise that the T&T shooter is waiting to see the ranges that have been readied for the Commonwealth Games.

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If its my day,I would fancy a podium finish, Lall said rather confidently.

Shooting wasnt Lalls first love and he dabbled in jujitsu,a form of wrestling which has its origins in Japan,and athletics. Initially,he was scared of guns with cartridges but enjoyed shooting with air rifles for which pellets were used. I was advised to try my hand at full bore and I tasted success rather quickly.

Now,Lall is tempted to stay back in India. His grandfather,a devotee of Sai Baba,has a house in Goa. Next time I come here I have a place to stay too.