Beyond medals, athletes need jobs & education, says Samaresh Jung

Indore: National medals alone cannot secure an athlete's future. India must create assured career pathways alongside sporting success, national pistol coach Samaresh Jung said on Tuesday. He stressed that without job security and academic grounding, even accomplished sportspersons face uncertainty after their competitive years end.Jung is in the city to compete in the 25 metre pistol events at the 19th All India Police Shooting Championship, which is being held at the BSF Reoti Ranges. A deputy commandant with the Central Industrial Security Force, Jung continues to compete, while also guiding India's top shooters including Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh at the Olympic level. The coach stressed that sporting careers are uncertain and relatively short. Many athletes peak in their 20s and retire by their early 30s. Without graduation or alternative qualifications, they struggle to secure employment. "We must ensure education continues alongside sport. Assured jobs and clear pathways reduce anxiety and allow athletes to perform freely," he said.He added that talent identification alone is not enough. India, he noted, has a vast base of potential athletes across smaller towns and districts. He praised the Madhya Pradesh Shooting Academy's model of conducting demonstration camps in interior areas and then tracking selected talent. "If we do not support and sustain talent after identifying it, the effort loses meaning," he said.Talking about the trend of pushing children into specialised sports very early, he cautioned parents against pushing children into intense training at a very young age. Shooting, he advised, can begin seriously around 12 years, after children explore multiple sports and develop physically and mentally. "Sport should be enjoyed first. Early pressure can be counterproductive," he said.An air pistol specialist, Jung enjoyed a remarkable run at the Commonwealth Games during the peak of his career. At the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, he won two gold medals in the men's free pistol pairs and the 25 metre standard pistol pairs events, partnering with Jaspal Rana. He went on to dominate the 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games, amassing seven gold, five silver and two bronze medals across the two editions.Such was his consistency that he earned the nickname "Goldfinger" during his prime years. Jung was also honoured with the Arjuna Award in 2002 in recognition of his contribution to Indian shooting.