Profile: Joydeep Karmakar
For Joydeep Karmakar, competing at the same event as fellow compatriot Gagan Narang, will be a challenge as well as a motivation factor. Joydeep Karmakar may not be the favourite amongst the Indian shooters but that will not deter him in any way.
- NDTVSports
- Updated: June 29, 2016 04:50 PM IST
Sport: Shooting
Born: December 7th, 1979
Event: 50m Rifle Prone
About Joydeep Karmakar:
For Joydeep Karmakar, competing at the same event at the Olympics 2012 as fellow compatriot Gagan Narang, will be a challenge as well as a motivation factor. Although the shooting contingent might be the strongest ever India has fielded at the Games, Karmakar may not be considered as one of the favourites going into the competition.
Having received a quota place in the 50m Rifle Prone event due to his consistent performances, going a notch higher would be his aim now. A close friend of Abhinav Bindra, the 2008 Beijing Olympics Gold medalist, Joydeep considers the 10m Air Rifle expert as more of a guide.
Representing India at a major international event will definitely bring jitters but also the excitement. In shooting, the performance on the day counts rather than all the practice, but having given his best shot to prepare, Karmakar will be hoping that luck falls on his side on the "D" day.
Practicing in Germany under German coach Heinz Reinkemeier, who also was the force behind Bindra's Gold medal performance, will definitely stand Joydeep in good stead.
Although troubles have not been far away from his preparations, the Kolkata born lad will be looking to leave them all behind and surge ahead. The director general Civil Aviation had delayed giving him permission to carry his ammunition to Germany for training and competitive purposes. Prior to this issue, even lack of funds had him in trouble.
Having come out of all of that unscathed, a stronger and hungrier Joydeep Karmakar will most certainly be visible in London.
In 1997 when Karmakar was given a place in the Junior National squad, he was the only one without a personal rifle. Periodic success meant that he was good enough but not motivated to that extent. That is when quitting shooting was the only option left, but only for a brief while.
2003 brought reversal in fortunes and he got himself a rifle through loan and help from well-wishers. At the National championships he won a bronze after only six days of practice with the new rifle.
He later became the first Indian to win a World Cup medal in the 50m prone event. Having participated in 17 World Cups, being the National Champion three times and also breaking his own national record thrice, Joydeep is now ready to leap forward on to the next level.
Previous Olympics: None
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