Gagan Narang is one of the best shooters in the history of India. His biggest achievement was winning the Bronze Medal at the 2012 London Olympics in the 10M Air Rifle Event. He also has many Commonwealth Games and Asian Games Medals. He was a part of the Padma Awards Committee in 2023.
Personal Details
Name | Gagan Narang |
Nationality | Indian |
Sport | Shooting |
Date of Birth | 6th May 1983 |
Place of Birth | Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
Parents | Father - Bhimsen Narang Mother - Amarjit Narang |
Early Life
Gagan Narang was born in a Punjabi family with his parents being Bhimsen Narang and Amarjit Narang. The father of Gagan Narang is a retired chief manager of Air India. Gagan Narang was shifted from Haryana to Hyderabad. He did his schooling at Gitanjali School and he finished his graduation from Osmania University. Since 1997, Gagan Narang has been practicing shooting when his father gave him an air pistol. At the age of 2 Gagan Narang shot a balloon with a toy pistol and since then his father had seen the talent that he had.
Career
Gagan Narang has his first big achievement in the 2003 Afro- Asian Games where he won the Gold Medal in 10M Air Rifle event. In the ISSF World Cup in 2006, Gagan Narang won the Gold Medal in the 10M Air Rifle and he won the Gold Medal in 2010 as well. Gagan Narang won 4 Gold Medals at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. He won these in the 10M Air Rifle individual shooting event , he then followed it up with the 10M Air Rifle Pairs Event. Gagan Narang also won the 50M Rifle 3 Positions Individual Event as well as the 50M Rifle 3 Positions Pairs Event. In the 2008 World Cup, Gagan Narang was in top form. He shot a perfect 600 out of 600 in the qualifying round. Then in The final he scored 103.5 taking his total to 703.5 points. Gagan Narang made a new record at this competition. He broke the record set by Thomas Farnik and he won it on 4th November 2008.
At the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Gagan Narang followed it up with 4 more Gold Medals. He won his first Gold Medal in the 10M Air Rifle Individual Event. He beat compatriot Abhinav Bindra to win the Gold. He got a perfect 600 in qualifying and in the final he hit 103.6 points taking his total to 703.6 which was a games record at the time. Then Gagan Narang and Abhinav Bindra won the Gold Medal In the 10M Air Rifle Pairs Event where they had a score of 1193 which was a Games Record. Gagan Narang also won Gold in the 50M Rifle 3 Positions Individual Event and the 50M Rifle 3 Positions Pairs Event where he and Imran Khan scored 2325 points for a Commonwealth Games Record. Gagan Narang won 2 Silver Medals at the 2010 Asian Games where first he won the Silver in the 10M Air Rifle individual. He and Abhinav Bindra won another Silver Medal in the 10M Air Rifle Team Event.
2012 London Olympics
Gagan Narang had a very good 2012 London Olympics. He won the Bronze Medal in the 10M Air Rifle Event. He scored 701.1 points in total which included the qualifying and the final. He was behind Niccolo Campriani of Italy who made 701.5 points. The Gold Medalist from Romania made 702.1 points to win this event. Gagan Narang was unable to qualify for the final of the 50M Rifle 3 Positions Event at London.
Interesting Facts about Gagan Narang
At the 2012 Indian Formula 1 Grand Prix, Gagan Narang was invited to wave the checkered flag.
Gagan Narang was the flag bearer at the 2010 Asian Games.
Barack Obama and Muhammad Ali have been inspirations for Gagan Narang.
Gagan Narang likes playing Table tennis and cricket.
Gagan Narang is a big fan of Chinese Food.
Gagan Narang has found a passion for photography after his retirement.
The favorite actresses of Gagan Narang are Nicole Kidman and Penelope Cruz.
Gagan Narang was so upset at being ignored every year for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award that he threatened to boycott the 2010 Commonwealth Games. After being explained by his family he changed his mind. The Government had to give him the award after the performances in the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Achievements and Awards for Gagan Narang
He won the Bronze Medal at the 2012 London Olympics at the 10M Air Rifle Shooting Event.
Gagan Narang won 4 Gold Medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. These were in the 10M Air Rifle individual event, 10M Air Rifle Pairs Event, 50M Rifle 3 Positions Individual Event and 50M Rifle 3 Positions Pairs Event.
Gagan Narang won 4 Gold Medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. He won these in the 10M Air Rifle individual event, 10M Air Rifle Pairs Event, 50M Rifle 3 Positions Individual Event and 50M Rifle 3 Positions Pairs Event.
At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow Scotland he won a Silver Medal at the 50M Rifle Prone Event and a Bronze Medal in the 50M Rifle 3 Positions Event.
Gagan Narang won 2 Silver Medals in the 2010 Asian Games. He won it in the 10M Air Rifle individual event and 10M Air Rifle Team Event.
In the 2006 Asian Games he won 3 Bronze Medals. He won these in the 10M Air Rifle Team, 50M Rifle 3 Positions Individual and 50M Rifle 3 Positions Team.
Gagan Narang was awarded the Padma Shri in 2011.
Gagan Narang was awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2011. He was selected for the year 2010.
