‘Thankful to all the experiences that didn't work in my favour’- Anjum Moudgil ahead of Paris Olympics

Anjum Moudgil credits subpar 2023 season which strengthened her mindset.

Anjum Moudgil is heading to her second Olympic Games at the Paris Olympics 2024, courtesy of a brilliant outing at the Indian Olympic Shooting trials 2024.

At the national trials, she defeated the likes of the Asian Games bronze medalist Ashi Chouksey, quota winner Shriyanka Sadangi and Nischal to qualify for the quadrennial games.

At the Tokyo Olympics 2020, Anjum Moudgil featured in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions and 10m air rifle team event partnering with Deepak Kumar where she finished 15th and 18th respectively. However, she is determined to showcase a strong performance in this edition’s Summer Olympics.

With the Paris Olympics fast approaching, the seasoned Indian shooter discussed her Tokyo Olympics campaign, a revised approach for this edition’s Games, a challenging 2023 season, the need to address mental health issues, and more during a virtual media interaction.

Tokyo campaign and her approach for Paris Olympics 2024

Anjum Moudgil discussed how the COVID-19-related environment changes during the Tokyo Olympics impacted the shooters. She highlighted the challenges faced by shooters at Tokyo and described her post-Tokyo journey as a roller coaster.

In 2022, Moudgil achieved the world no. #1 ranking in ISSF 50m rifle event after winning bronze at the Changwon World Cup and also won a silver at the President’s Cup. However, year 2023 saw Moudgil facing setbacks as she missed out on the ISSF World Championships and Asian Games teams.

She said, “In Tokyo, the environment was very different because of COVID, and we were away for two months training in Croatia. Everything was very tentative.

Also Read: Manu Bhaker headlines India’s 15-member Rifle and Pistol shooting team for Paris Olympics 2024

“We had to give our tests every day in the morning. It was like any day anyone could be COVID (positive) and not allowed to shoot. So, I think all of this really disturbs you to prepare.

“I think all of that experience and obviously the next three years after Tokyo had been a roller coaster ride for me. I’m very grateful for all those experiences because I have seen very tough times, and I was happy to come back stronger. I’m sure all of those experiences would really help me in approaching Paris now.”

Changes in Anjum Moudgil’s game and mindset since Tokyo Olympics

“I really started focusing on my mental training and I’ve been working with someone from the last two and a half, three years now and it’s been such a positive change for me to work on my mental health.

“I’m very thankful to all the experiences that really didn’t work in my favour last year. During the time I was not part of the team, that was the best time I could have used for myself to get better and find what works.

“So that’s, I think that’s one change I’ve brought in my game and that’s the strong mindset I’m going with into the Paris Games.”

Importance of addressing mental health issues on a larger scale

Moudgil advocates for the need to address mental health issues on a larger scale. She stated: “So many athletes have also spoken up earlier about the issues about different things affecting us mentally. I think this is a very common issue that should be actually addressed all over the place.

“So, I feel if the people who come from different sports with good coverage, and are famous, if they talk about it, then the awareness can be spread and also no one should really hide anything that they are going through. So, I think this is a very positive step towards people admiring and also understanding us.”

Notably, Michael Phelps, Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka, Caeleb Dressel, and Tom Daley are among the prominent athletes who have openly discussed their mental health struggles, inspiring others to do the same.

She further shared her views on the Paris Olympic organizers setting up mental health helpline in 70 languages for the athletes, “I think yeah, it’s so important for the federation and other countries to understand the mental trend and the things that athletes have to work on.

“Also, the mental toughness that is required for their athletes to actually go through all the phases of our careers. It’s a really positive step to see the mental health helplines being introduced.”

‘Confident’ before the trials about making a comeback to the team

Although Moudgil couldn’t earn the quota through shooting qualifying events, she believed that she could make it to the Indian shooting team for the Paris Olympics.

She said, “I was really confident of coming back because the time when I didn’t make it to the team during the world championship in the Asian Games, I used it to just train solo outside India and worked on so many things.”

“I was just focused too much and very positive to give my best in those trials. It really worked in my favour. I didn’t really think of the people who had the advantage of two points (those who quota had two extra points during the selection trials). But I knew my strengths of working under pressure and that really paid off.”

Why the shooting trials for Paris was the most gruelling competition of her life

Anjum Moudgil underscored the difficulty of the four trials which were a part of the National Olympic shooting trials for the Paris Olympics.

She mentioned: “I think the trials were really gruelling and the competition is very high in India and I’m very thankful for that because of all the experience, the pressure or everything that we face during the trials, that experience would really help us in the Olympics. I think in no other competition, I’ve actually felt this much pressure and the fire to perform.”

Also Read: Full list of Indian athletes who will debut at Paris Olympics 2024

Her rivalry with Sift Kaur Samra

Moudgil talked about the talented pool of shooters in India, including Sift Kaur Samra, and the positive impact they bring to the sport. She added, “I think them being so young, it really helps me to push my limits.

“Because had it been no one else, I would have maybe stuck somewhere where I was two, three years back. But I think having such a nice high-level competition in my event, it has really pushed me.”

“So I’m really happy that she’s in the team. I think the reason I’m here is because of the efforts that I have put into and I think that I’ve learned so many things from them, the mindset, the confidence, this is all that I’ve got from all the youngsters in the team.”

Finding relaxation in painting and developing a growing interest in video editing & shooting

Anjum Moudgil had taken a break from painting last year but has since resumed her painting activities. She spoke about it adding, “I realized later that painting really helped me to sort of switch off from shooting and unwind and it was my strong point.

Whenever I’m back from the range, I sort of have an idea of what to paint or doing some projects for other shooters. Now it’s been there for me to relax and I’m really enjoying it.

“I love anything that involves creativity. I think when you tend to learn something, you just keep learning and getting better in it,” she said about her growing interest in video shooting and editing.

Excitement about competing at the Paris Olympics and be in ‘Chateauroux’

Anjum Moudgil admitted that she loved Paris and its landmarks and expressed her enthusiasm to compete in Chateauroux, where the shooting venue of the Paris Olympics is located, “I’m excited to now experience Chateauroux and Olympic Games aside from Paris because I’m happy to be there.”

The Indian Olympic shooting team is currently in Luxembourg, intensively gearing up for the Paris Olympics, which also marks their final stage of preparation. They will subsequently head to Chateauroux on July 24 as the shooting events for the quadrennial games are set to take place from July 27 to August 5.

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