 Hi, we are at the sidelines of the hockey world cup in Odisha and Mr. Kagan Narang, age shooter, Olympic bronze medalist, he is here to catch some action. He is apparently a big fan of hockey and he has ensured at each Olympics that he goes to the venue to cheer India. So, he is here in Odisha to catch the homeboys how they are going and what has been the experience here? Oh, it has been wonderful. I think the excitement and the energy in the whole city. The world cup has actually transformed the whole city and I am really glad to see so much of fans following in Odisha basically. I think their hearts really beat for hockey and I am delighted to be here. I was there yesterday for a non-India playing match and the excitement and the energy in the stadium was absolutely fabulous. I mean, I can only imagine how it is going to be today or whenever India plays and gets onto the field. And whenever you are going, heading into the Olympics or any multi-sport event for that matter, the buzz around India is still hockey. So, when you are at the village and all that you obviously, this is, I mean, the Indian hockey team is also part of the contingent and you feel part of it. So, say for instance, going back to London or Rio. So, can you look at some anecdotes, give us some anecdotes about hockey? Well, as a kid, you know, I mean, we have this strange connect with hockey because, you know, we've always seen hockey players and we've idolised someone like Dhanraj Pillay or even Dilip Pirke for that matter. And when I actually went to the Athens Olympics, it was the first time that I interacted with the hockey team and, you know, Viren was at that point of time the captain. And it was an absolute delight to see these players. And I mean, it's an inspiration to see someone who is, you know, putting their sweat, blood and tears into the sport. And I mean, it's motivating for everyone. I mean, the whole environment of going to the Olympics or going to the multi-sport games is that, you know, you learn a lot from each other. You get inspired, you eat at the same table as the champions do. So, the whole environment is basically energising and motivating. And how do you, I mean, at the stands when you're watching India play as a big venue like the Olympics, so are you a fan? How have you been there? Oh, yeah, I mean, going to a tournament where India is playing, I mean, when you play for India, I mean, we die for it, we give our lives for it. So, I mean, it's a great feeling when you have India playing in any competition. And like I said, the only way you can raise your country's flag in another country and want people to respect their sport. So, it's really motivating and inspiring for me to see India play at any competition. And obviously, I've been following the action at the World Cup here. So, what do you feel India's chances are because you've seen some great action also. Even yesterday, you mentioned non-India playing, but Australia, decimated China, a huge match. So, where do you feel India will finish and what is your wish for that? Well, I think, like I always say, the beauty of a sport is that it's not predictable. And I hope that India puts their best foot forward. The team has been the fittest it's ever been. And the first step, I guess, would be to get into the semifinals and then take it on from there. So, looking forward to that. And the medals prospect, I mean, talking about that actually, because semifinals means then there is a medal prospect. So, when India used to go to the Olympics earlier, the biggest medal prospect for India used to be hockey. Hockey always because of the history that we have, the legacy. And off late, to a large extent, looking at the base of the sport and how it's expanding and how expectant we are of medals, shooting has somewhat been the modern hockey for India in a way. Because when shooters go for the Olympics, we expect free-for-medals. You have handled that burden of expectations. So, what do you think where your sport stands at present? So, I think what hockey has really done is, you know, got in the money and got in the limelight. And earlier, you know, seeing matches and stuff would be, you know, an extreme possible. But now, I think with the media coming in to support the sport and a lot of corporate sponsorships and all and the leagues and stuff. So, I think great that Indian hockey is becoming very, very popular now. A lot of people, a lot of youngsters look up to it. And I think shooting is seeing a similar trend wherein we have a lot of youngsters. I mean, 10 years ago, there would be about 500 shooters shooting the national championship. And the national championship that just got over a week back in Trivandrum, we had about 6000 shooters. So, there's a great influx of shooters coming into the sport. I think the parents have also, in a way, supporting a lot earlier, you know, shooting. Which movie do you shoot? So, now when you say, OK, what sport, I mean, what do you do? So, I shoot. And they actually ask, you know, which event you're shooting. So, that's the kind of the paradigm change that the sport has seen over a period of time. And also, I think the parents realize that an individual's putting their kid in an individual's sport is better because you're in control of your own performance. And also, to a large extent, it's an injury-free sport. So, contact-free sport and you're in control of your performance. So, a lot of parents push their kids now. And I'm glad that I see so many youngsters coming in and happy to help them in whatever way I can. And so, obviously, the change in awareness in India started off with the performances that a lot of... I mean, a generation back also, starting from Jaspal Rana and all that and then getting into your generation and your great World Cup victories and Olympic medal and Abhinav Gindra's Olympic medal. And after that, this has just shot up. But a unique factor in you is that even while being in the field and being an active competitor, you have started to give something back to the sport in the form of academies, in the form of grooming youngsters. So, can you just give some insight into your activities on that front? Well, I feel that I've always been a product of the system. And I think being a product of the system and achieving whatever I have, it's our responsibility in a way to give back to the sport that we love so much. And at a level, I mean, I would always help people on the range and if they needed my equipment or anything. So, when the thought of opening an academy came up, you know, it was like, okay, let's do it in a structured manner. Maybe identify the loose ends and maybe kind of try and work on them individually and kind of fine tune the whole scenario. So, the motive was to basically start off by giving back. And I'm glad that I'm still shooting and it would be very interesting. I mean, it was a very interesting moment in 2016 when, you know, I was shooting with the kids that I mentored. So, looking forward to this interesting journey, I mean, it's a great learning experience for me when I also was young to shoot. Also, it motivates me, you know, and I kind of try and see how I can do things better for myself in the sport and also kind of help them as well. So, it's a very unique blend of being into the sport and even also giving back at the same time. And I hope that I have some of them on the podium in probably 2020 and beyond. And the way you started off into this initiative of yours, obviously your base is Pune but you have decided to spread across which is actually a great cause but it also comes with a lot of challenges. So, while expanding, you mentioned that you have like 16 academies now across the country now but while expanding, what are the challenges that you're facing? I mean, for running it as well, not just establishing it. So, Leslie, when we started off, obviously we started off with the goal of providing the best facilities possible. But then over a period of time, we realized that that was not the right way to kind of go about it. And we focused and we wanted to get into broad basing the sport because sport was not popular, it's not spectator friendly and all that is changed now. So, a lot of television is coming in and a lot of sport is being televised on social media as well. So, a lot of that has been changed and I'm happy that we are able to now provide the excellence at grassroots. So, basically, when we didn't want to keep everything and consolidate it into one center, we wanted to go to different parts of the country. We wanted to bring down the entry-level barriers. So, for example, a weapon that cost 2.5 lakhs or 3 lakhs, you know, now a shooter can go into an academy and learn the sport in just 5.5 thousand rupees. So, the entry-level barrier has really come down and there are more and more people who are getting into the sport to kind of learn the sport. Obviously, it's a decision that the parents and the shooter has to make, or the kid has to make over a period of time as to whether he's good enough and he should continue or not. But the entry-level barrier is reduced. So, our goal or motto is to basically spread as wide as possible so that the sport becomes popular and grow the base of the pyramid. So, when we have, right now, we have probably 10 or 15 thousand, 20 thousand shooters in the country and we have four Olympic medals in the sport. So, imagine if 20 thousand goes to 1 lakh or more than that, you know. So, it has huge potential and we're just playing a small little part in the whole situation. Yeah, obviously that expands a little because earlier catchment areas, for instance, would be the arms forces where the shooter seems to come from and then certain pockets in the country. Now, you see shooters coming from Hyderabad, even you mentioned that you have started a signed understanding with the Odisha government and I-Performance Centre is being planned here. And so, with that expansion in base, spread base for the sport spreading in the country and your career also hitting a point where you are, I mean, it's the fag end of your career. So, looking back, what do you think of your journey and what do you think of the journey that lies ahead of you? I don't think it's the fag end of my career, I think- I take that back then. In the sense that- But yeah, I mean- You still have a few years. I still have a few years and as long as I am enjoying the sport, you know, I will give my best. But like I said, the sport is growing and the way we are progressing, I think it is in the right direction and I think the leadership in the Indian Shooting Federation is very positive and wants to do a lot for the sport and I'm glad that we can put in something in our own little way. Like I said, I'll give an example of a small city like Jabalpur. So, we've done so well in Jabalpur. It's a small city, we have almost two or three international shooters from there and similarly, if you see Ella Vanil, if you see Gujarat, if you see Hyderabad, so there is so much of positivity that you get when you interact with the kids and when you see their dreams and I mean, obviously not everyone can become a champion but our motto or the goal is to give them the right kind of guidance because when you get the right guidance at the right time, I think that is very important and essential and once you fill that gap up, you will have a lot of people retaining in the system instead of demotivated and going out of it. On that note, looking ahead to a bright future for shooting as well as for you because you have started your preparations I believe for the Tokyo Olympics and beyond. Well, yes, I am taking a break for a couple of months right now because I have to change my equipment so it's been a while that my jacket and trousers needs a bit of change. I've been using it for the last 12 years now so that needs some change and so I'm working on it. So we have four World Cups this year. I would be planning to participate in the last two World Cups and onward to the Asian Championships. So hoping to get a quota place and then onward to 2020. All the best for the Olympic plans that you have and thanks for your time and I hope you enjoy a very successful long career. Thank you so much. If it's not by shooting it will always be by mentoring. I would love to continue being associated with this sport. That's a great sign because that's what India needs our champions actually mentoring so that the flow of champions are maintained. Thank you so much.