‘Embraced Buddha’s teachings to stay calm’

“Jittery” and “excited” are expected responses from someone bracing up for his first Olympics.

Ahead of the Rio Games, pistol ace Jitu Rai has the same set of answers. But what he is doing to reduce that anxiety is unusual. “I have been reading Buddha’s teachings to keep myself calm.

“It’s a different feeling, going to the Olympics. I am nervous, though there is no undue pressure on me. I have my own expectation of doing well there...and that is winning the gold,” Jitu told this paper.

Jitu recalls he began embracing the Buddha’s philosophy since 2012, and it had helped him think positive and plan better during tournaments. “I don’t embrace Buddhism, but the teachings. I admire the knowledge and thoughts of Buddha. It helps me take out negative thoughts from my mind. Shooting is a sport where you need to control your mind and focus. I am able to do that better now,” says the 2014 Asian and Commonwealth Games winner in 10m air rifle. “In addition, I meditate every day for 15-20 minutes to improve my concentration.”

But how does Jitu relate the calmness of Buddha with a violent sport like shooting

“It’s like before a storm, there’s calm. And this calmness is important in a sport like shooting, which is about intensity and concentration,” explains the Indian Army shooter, who has been training and competing in various venues around Europe.

On his preparations, Jitu sounds confident after shooting 580-plus scores of late.

On Saturday, Jitu received a boost to his preparations after a podium finish in a World Cup meet at Baku, Azerbaijan. He overcame his 10th place (50m pistol) disappointment with a silver in the 10m air pistol on the day. It was his sixth World Cup medal overall.

“This surely is a confidence booster, coming just before the Olympics. I am happy with my current form. I am able to shoot 586, 584... recently. I need to maintain this form till the Games which would be enough to make the finals in Rio,” he said

The 28-year-old has no special training plans ahead of the Games, but is focusing on the “carelessness” factor in his regime. “There is no room for negligence now. I am into serious training, focusing on quality rather than quantity.”

“I have got new equipment from Germany recently, and it is performing very well. I am awaiting its best result in Rio, which would be for my mother,” he signs off keeping his fingers crossed.