28 August,2014 05:01 PM IST | | PTI
Sixteen-year-old shooting sensation Malaika Goel says the unexpected silver at the Commonwealth Games last month has given her the much-needed confidence to aim for a gold at the upcoming Asian Games in Incheon, Korea
New Delhi: Sixteen-year-old shooting sensation Malaika Goel says the unexpected silver at the Commonwealth Games last month has given her the much-needed confidence to aim for a gold at the upcoming Asian Games in Incheon, Korea.
Malaika made the shooting world took notice of her in Glasgow where she beat experienced competitors, including India's very own Heena Sidhu to win the silver in the women's 10m air pistol event. The Ludhiana-based schoolgirl is aware that the road ahead is tougher with back-to-back competitions in the World Championships starting September 6 in Granada, Spain and the subsequent Asian Games in Inchoen, South Korea.
"It will surely will be much tougher in the presence of the Chinese and the Koreans but at the same time I did not do expect to win a medal in Glasgow. Shooting is very much about your form on the day along with some luck going your way. I am confident things will fall in place in Incheon," Malaika told PTI here today on the sidelines of Samsung's official send-off ceremony for the Asian Games-bound athletes.
Though the Worlds precede the Asian Games, the student of the Sacred Heart Convent School in Ludhiana is not bogged down by workload. "The World Championships is another crucial event. I will try to do give my best there too but focus will remain on the Asian Games," said Malaika, who has not yet graduated to the senior level at World Championships and will be competing in the junior category. She leaves for Spain on the fifth of next month.
