Rahi's found a way to London

MUMBAI: Four years is a good time foran athlete to turn around his fortune and aim for the ultimate laurel - anOlympic medal. Surely, pistol shooter Rahi Sarnobat will be hoping to get listed amongst the elite at the London Olympics in 2012, after booking her spot with a bronze in the 25m air pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Fort Benning, USA, last week.But if the 20-year-old rewinds to four yearsago, sports was a far-fetched possibility, if not an ordeal for the youngshooter. Being one who chose to spend more time with her books, Sarnobat was theaverage Indian student who made her parents proud with an 85% grade in her 10thexams.But back in 2006, another girl from her hometown of Kolhapur, Tejaswini Sawant, created a stir with two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Curiosity drove the then teen to step out to take a look at her new found idol's training ground. And much to the dismay of her parents, Rahi found a new love - shooting."Honestly, I had nofriends in college and had a lot of time to myself which I used to visit ashooting range for the first time. I was part of the National Cadet Corps (NCC)at school but soaking in a professional range was a different experiencealtogether. My parents were skeptical and initially insisted I study science,but once convinced, lent me all their support," she recalls.Thoughrifle shooting was the real draw, the cumbersome pre and post-shooting routineof jumping in and out of a suit was a turnoff for the happy-go-lucky Rahi. "Allyou need to do is slip on a pair of jeans and you're good to go," she says abouther pistol shooting attire.At a time when Rahi recalls there beingjust one pistol shooter at her range, laying hands on her weapon of choice was atough ask, let alone the ammunition. For the next eight months, Rahi used herthen coach Ajit Patil's dusty old weapon, minus the pellets and made shadowpractice her routine.The first time she actually had ammunition ather disposal was at a State meet nine months into her stint. But the talent andthe effort were fruitful, as she came back with a silver medal on debut.Initially, things were tough getting into the thick of things while turning professional, but with results, Rahi landed aid through Vascon and Lakshya, and for the last six months, her efforts are being boosted by a Kazakh pistol shooting coach, Anatolii Pidduvnyi, and a gunsmith at the Gun for Glory Academy in Balewadi, Pune, who caters to her needs to attain that ultimate prize.Clearly for Rahi, it hasn't been so much about grassrootguidance than it has been about a level head and an ability to self-talk thatwas spotted by mental conditioner Bhishmaraj Bam. Her chubby disposition maypaint a different picture but the rookie has made it her strength and collectedthe experience from 15 international outings to make her mark on the worldstage.Rahi was satisfied with just the bronze, well aware that onlythe top two get an Olympic berth. But with Chinese girl Chen Ying having alreadyqualified in another event, it wasn't until national coach Sunny Thomascongratulated her that her chubby cheeks went pink with delight. "I was just toohappy after learning I'm going to London," she giggles.Four years isa long time, long enough to change your destination. Rahi, for one, knows whereshe's going.