Ronjan Singh Sodhi: The Olympic Shooter

Most athletes talk about a state of zenThe ball looks bigger, time slows down and every second feels like a lifetime. Ronjan Singh Sodhi. At the ISSF Shooting World Cup in Maribor, Slovenia where he won bronze, the shooter was thinking a chicken recipe he wanted to try in the kitchen.

“You can’t really control your mind,” says Sodhi. unnatural I believe. Ilet my mind wander and I think that helps me. When you’rethinking shooting and the target, your mind isnt calm,” the double trap shooter elaborates on his mantra.

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It seems to be working just fine for the marksman who is no slouch with the gun. An Asian Games gold medalist, Sodhi has a string of world records. He shot a perfect 50 hits out of 50 clays in the final to clinch the coveted gold Double Trap event at the 2010 ISSF World Cup in Lonato, Italy last year.

So what was he thinking during his 50-on-50 feat? “I was counting them down – 47, 48, 49…” he quickly responds, adding, “It’s better to be aware and not lie to yourself. I like to know how the other shooters are doing, so I look at the board. My shooting style is aggressive even though I remain calm.”

A soft-spoken man, Sodhi does not brag like the world-beater he is. He prefers his gun make all the noise. A comparatively late starter – his first competition was the national championship when he was 17 – Sodhi has taken on the mantle of becoming India’s best shooter in the past few years and is regarded as India’s best bet at the London Olympics 2012. He shot two world records on his way to winning the World Cup Finals in Belgrade in 2008, but couldn’t qualify for the Beijing Olympics since all the quota places had been filled. But this time the 31-year-old Sodhi has already booked himself a spot for London by hooting 183 in tough conditions and winning silver in the shotgun World Cup in Beijing.

“I’ve been winning medals consistently since 2007,” Sodhi says without any sign of conceit. “This year has begun well, but the question is how long will I sustain myself.”

He is currently just three points away from being the World No. 1, but it’s just another honour that sits lightly on his shoulders. “Right now I’m No. 2. Soon I’ll be No. 1 and then I will have to learn to defend my ranking. When people call me an Olympic medal prospect, it feels great. I feel more responsible and it shows they have faith in me.”

He possesses the quiet confidence that winning inevitably imparts, but there was a time when he didn’t know if shooting down targets was what he was meant to do. So he went and got himself an MBA degree. Luckily for him, destiny had better plans than a stuffy office job in store for him.

“Shooting was a gamble at that time so it was a good idea to be prepared, but I love competing and thankfully things have worked out well for me.”

Wn not winning medals of all ranksSodhi, along with other Indian shooters, spends his time sharpening his shooting skills in Italy. And a typical day sees him begin his morning with the booming sound of guns.

“We have a fantastic training base in Italy with a great range and even a hotel on the premises. My day usually starts with an early morning session with the coach. In the afternoon I train a little more, do a little meditation and follow it up with a spot of physical activity in the evening.”

Just as easily as visions of Sodhi spending hours at the range shooting down brightly coloured clay pigeons start forming in our head (much like an addictive video game), he squashes them. “I have actually curtailed my training now and prefer to spend more qualitative time at the range. As you get more experienced, you realise what works for you.”

It’s not just his shooting that he has honed, but also his skills in the kitchen. “Cooking is such a stress buster. I love food and when you’re staying away you have enough time and opportunity to cook and experiment.” Though his wife Ruchika has to do all the cooking when he’s back home.

The man who grew up in New Delhi and counted an airg un as one of his favourite toys growing up enjoys the attention and thrill of the sport, but understandably misses his family and his three-year-old son Suryaveer the most when traveling. Though it’s a sacrifice that most athletes have to make.

“Staying away from family is the biggest and hardest sacrifice to make. I’ve been married for four years, but I’m out of the country for 200 days in a year. My son is 3 and I have no memories of him taking his first step or speaking his first word because I wasn’t around. It’s tough, but it is what it is,” is his humble acceptance. “Athletes don’t have a 20-30 year career span, so it’s very important that your family supports you. Thankfully, mine has never let me feel like I’ve let them down. They never make me feel that I’m not a good husband or father or son. Without such support, I might’ve struggled.”

With London 2012 registering firmly on his radar, Sodhi has little else to think about. Maybe all he needs is another recipe to try out in the kitchen, since his recipe for success is a sure shot.

From the August 2011 issue of FHM India.