London: Gagan Narang's bronze has given him the "extra lift" he needed and Ronjan Sodhi, one of India's biggest medal hopes in the Olympic Games, will now look to not just emulate but better his colleague's achievement when he takes to the range for the double trap event on Thursday.
"It has given the Indian shooting team the extra lift.
All of them are excited and everyone is looking forward to doing well at their events," Sodhi has said ahead of his event at the Royal Artillery Barracks.
The cheerful marksman, in fact, felt that Narang's feat will inspire the entire Indian contingent.
"It is a great lift not only for the shooters but for the entire Indian contingent in London. The mood is quite upbeat and everybody is quite excited," the former world number 1 said.
Though expectations are high from the Ferozepur lad after his exploits at the international level over the last few years, Sodhi is not under any pressure.
"I am feeling quite excited and thrilled. There is no pressure, but there is this responsibility... that people believe in my abilities. I feel excited and thrilled about it," he said.
He will be more than happy if a little bit of luck goes in his favour, but Sodhi has already made it clear that there will be no excuse to offer as far as weather and range conditions are concerned.
Barring those whose events are held indoors, the English weather could prove to be crucial to the shooters' performances.
"It is a level-playing field out there and the weather and range will affect all the shooters, so that is going to be no excuse," Sodhi had said at the Games Village.
Sodhi agreed that the weather will have maximum impact in his double trap event but added that one has to be prepared for it.
"See I have been in this sport for a long time and having being World Champion in 2009 and winner of World Cup, I know how it works. You may be the greatest shooter of all time but you need a bit of luck on a particular day."
Talking about the (The Royal Artillery Barracks) Range, where the shooting events will take place, Sodhi said, "It is good and no cause for any excuse."
Sodhi, who finished seventh in this year's World Championship, was of the view that the score of 145 out of 150 at this range will be good to beat in the final.
And about the field, he said: "Well, needless to say it is very tough. There are 22 shooters including current World No 1 Peter Wilson and Joshua Richmond (USA). I named them because you asked me, otherwise all the participants start with same advantage/disadvantage before the start of the event.
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