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Saurabh Chaudhary, all of 16, has achieved one of Indian sports' most remarkable feats when he shot his way to a gold in the 10 metre air pistol event at the Jakarta Palembang Asian Games. For sure, India has recorded success at all levels in shooting. But this time a rank outsider came into the Asian Games and held his nerve in a nail biting contest, where other competitors included a South Korean Olympic gold medallist, stars from China's sports assembly line and a Japanese legend. He appeared nerveless at the crunch, a phenomenon rarely seen in Indian sport. Chaudhary's gold will go down as a milestone for its sheer unexpectedness and the odds that had to be overcome. Another aspect which stands out is that Chaudhary and Abhishek Verma, who won bronze in the 10 metre air pistol event, are civilians in a sport where the Indian army has contributed many winners. One reason for the new wave of winners from rural and small town India is that former sportspersons, in conjunction with private philanthrophists, have begun to invest in providing finishing touches to potential champions. These not for profit organisations complement state funding and the combined impact has begun to translate into medals, as compared to an earlier era when many first rate sportspeople fell marginally short. The achievement of Saurabh Chaudhary is not just a milestone. It also signals backend changes in Indian sports architecture are producing results. In recent times a violent fringe which neither fears police nor has respect for the law has been unduly emboldened. However, India cannot afford its own contingent of 'non state actors'. Lives and freedoms are at stake, not to mention that providing security to citizens is the first function and duty of a modern state. Saurabh Chaudhary, all of 16, has achieved one of Indian sports' most remarkable feats when he shot his way to a gold in the 10 metre air pistol event at the Jakarta Palembang Asian Games. For sure, India has recorded success at all levels in shooting. But this time a rank outsider came into the Asian Games and held his nerve in a nail biting contest, where other competitors included a South Korean Olympic gold medallist, stars from China's sports assembly line and a Japanese legend. He appeared nerveless at the crunch, a phenomenon rarely seen in Indian sport. Chaudhary's gold will go down as a milestone for its sheer unexpectedness and the odds that had to be overcome. Another aspect which stands out is that Chaudhary and Abhishek Verma, who won bronze in the 10 metre air pistol event, are civilians in a sport where the Indian army has contributed many winners. One

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