Bronze medalist at the Commonwealth Games 2018 in the 10m Air Rifle event, Apurvi Chandela, is just like any other 25 year old woman, except she is chasing her dreams at an international level. She had also won the gold medal in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, making herself and her country proud. This young shooter is an inspiration to thousands of girls in India.
Women Fitness India recently got the wonderful chance to speak to the Arjuna Award winning shooter about her journey in this sport, what drew her to it and what has been her greatest strength.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
With a keen interest in sports, a career in sports journalism was initially your preferred option. As destiny uncovered, you were inspired to take up the gun at the age of 15 after Abhinav Bindra’s historic gold medal victory in Beijing, 2008. Four years later your adept approach helped you turn professional. Share with us your journey in the world of sports. How did it all start?
Ms. Apurvi Chandela:
I come from a family which is full of sports enthusiasts, so around the age of 10 is when it all began. My maternal family has a lot of national and international basketball players, so in the growing up years I would hear about all their stories of practicing basketball in the scorching heat of Bikaner, Rajasthan (that’s my mother’s hometown) all day long and I could see the sheer joy on their faces, reminiscing those old days.
By that time I had also developed a keen interest in sports and would follow soccer and cricket matches religiously. All of this I think was leading up to something bigger. I was 15 when Abhinav Bindra won the Olympic Gold Medal in Beijing 2008 and that brought in the idea of rifle shooting.
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar, President womenfitness.org and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2018 Women Fitness Org
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Your career accentuated with a gold in your first outing at the CWG in 10m air rifle event at Glasgow in 2014, becoming an inspiration for thousands of women who look up to you. What is a day like in your life, both while training for competitions and on a daily basis?
Ms. Apurvi Chandela:
When I began shooting, I was in class 11, which required me to focus both on academics and shooting. I would spend most of my mornings and day time at school, and then go to a shooting range which was about half an hour away from home. I would train there for about 3 hours a day, which would leave very little time to focus on physical training which I would do late in the evenings.
It was getting a little difficult to manage it all, and with class 12 approaching in the following year, my parents took the decision of making a range at home. Ever since then, I have been training at home, apart from the times when I have to join the Indian team camps before every international tournament.
Shooting requires you to have nerves of steel. You need to train your mind to be calm in high pressure situations, and to get anywhere close to that state, requires yoga and meditation. I also have to focus on fitness, for which I do a combination of cardio, strengthening and functional exercises.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have given some exceptionally great performances, winning Gold in Women’s 10m Air Rifle at Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014 , Bronze in Women’s 10m air rifle at ISSF World Cup, Changwon 2015, Silver in Women’s 10m air rifle at ISSF World Cup Finals 2015. Share with us your preparation, training, and motivation that has helped you to reach this height and helped achieve such expertise in your sport.
Ms. Apurvi Chandela:
To perform well at the international level and sustain for long requires you to have a good support system. Luckily, my family has been extremely supportive. They have been a part of my journey since the very beginning, they have lived this part of my life as much as I have. My mother has accompanied me and sat behind me in almost all my training sessions. They have helped me overcome all my lows. So a lot of credit goes to my family for all that I have achieved in this field. My coach Rakesh Manpat has helped me in honing and brushing up my shooting skills.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You are a proud recipient of the Arjuna Award. No doubt this is a matter of great honour for an Indian. When were you informed and what was your first reaction? Do share your family input?
Ms. Apurvi Chandela:
I was in Hong Kong for a holiday with my sister and brother in law, when I got a phone call from my father and he told me about it. I felt extremely honoured and privileged to be receiving such a prestigious award. My family was overjoyed and I kept getting calls from them, one after the other.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Winning in any sport involves a lot of determination and hard work, more so in the life of a sportswoman. Elaborate on your training routine to achieve focus much needed in your sport? What precautions do you take to handle muscle wear & tear?
Ms. Apurvi Chandela:
Times have changed a lot now, there is a lot more awareness about the importance of fitness. There are physiotherapists provided by my sponsors Olympic Gold Quest who travel with us for international competitions, and they monitor our muscle condition. If we have any muscle injury, then they help us in treating it.
The precautions that I take to avoid any muscle injury is to keep myself hydrated. Water is a vital component for physical performance and muscle growth. There are a lot of times that we forget to do the same, but I have an app on my phone which constantly reminds me to drink water.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Sports-specific nutrition is an integral part of a sports person. Share with us the diet pattern that you follow to stay healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Apurvi Chandela:
When at home, I love to eat dal, rice and home cooked vegetables (greens being my favourite). But due to constant travelling for international competitions, I’m mostly away from home. I usually include more of protein in my diet. Our body uses protein to build and repair tissues, and it has a lot of health benefits.
For breakfast I eat 2 egg whites, a bowl of papaya and a glass of milk. At about 11am my mother gives me fresh beetroot, carrot or orange juice depending on the season. If I am at home, then my lunch comprises of a bowl of dal, a green vegetable and 2 rotis and if I’m travelling abroad for a competition, then I eat salmon with a bowl of salad. At around 4pm, I eat a fruit and a bowl of makhanas. I absolutely love eating makhanas, and they have a lot of health benefits as well. I eat dinner before 8pm. I mostly eat grilled chicken breast for dinner.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Being a professional athlete, you are a role model for many striving to make their dream come true, provide us with words of inspiration to help others climb up the ladder of success in this field? What according to you is the right age to begin preparation for any sport? Any Beginner tips?
Ms. Apurvi Chandela:
Always remember that there is no shortcut to success. You have to keep working hard. There will be ups and downs, you will win on some days and loose on some. But if you don’t loose, you cannot enjoy the victories. The key is to never give up. Do all that it takes to achieve your dreams and push your limits and challenge yourself everyday.
I think the age limit can vary depending on the sport. A sport like 10m rifle shooting should be picked up around the age of 13-14 years. The position that we take in 10m rifle shooting puts weight on our lower back and that can effect the shape of the spine in children. The weight of the rifle being 4-5kgs heavy as well.
There are lots of other sports which can be picked up at an earlier stage in life.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
To be a successful sportsperson in India is not an easy task. What has been the driving force for you in your career? What role has your family played in your success and achievements?
Ms. Apurvi Chandela:
Like I mentioned before, family support plays a vital role in pursuing sports as a career. My family has played a major role in helping me get till here. They try to leave no stone unturned and provide everything possible that would benefit my shooting. It is important to have people around who understand you and believe in you. They also make an effort to travel along with me for my matches all over the world. So, they are definitely the driving force in my career.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You broke the world record score of 211.2 in women’s 10m air rifle event, to surpass the feat of Chinese Olympic gold medallist Yi Siling (211). How did you feel about this incredible achievement? Share the challenges & pressure you experienced before & on the day of the competition?
Ms. Apurvi Chandela:
It was my birthday that day, so it was even more special. I was playing my normal game that day, and my training had been going well since a few months before that competition, so I was confident and just focused on executing my technique. It won’t be counted as an official world record as it was an open competition but it definitely was a great achievement for me to be able to push my limits and challenge myself.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Women Fitness works with a goal to reach out to women all over the world providing them with best in health & fitness. What do you wish to say about the website (Womenfitness.org) and a message for our visitors?
Ms. Apurvi Chandela:
Its wonderful to see the information on the website which is so readily available for anyone in the world who’s looking for tips on leading a healthier life.
My message to the readers is: A healthy lifestyle should be a way of living as it is a fundamental component to achieving optimal mental and physical well-being. Once you get into the habit of maintaining a healthy routine, you will be able to see, feel and experience the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. Eat healthy, exercise and stay hydrated. It is important to love yourself and be happy and don’t forget to keep that smile on!!
Follow her on:
- https://twitter.com/apurvichandela
- https://www.instagram.com/apurvichandela/
- https://www.facebook.com/apurvichandelatheshooter/
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar, President womenfitness.org and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2018 Women Fitness Org