Road to Rio: In-form Chain Singh could spring a surprise for India at 2016 Olympics

Name: Chain Singh Age: 27 Discipline: Shooting Category: Men’s 50m rifle prone, Men’s 50m rifle 3-positions Qualification: Finished eighth in the 50m rifle 3-position event at the World Cup in Gabala, Azerbaijan Strengths: Consistency in Men’s 50 m rifle positions category has been the key for Chain Singh’s meteorical rise in 2016 where he won six gold medals at the South Asian games. Past Olympic performance: Debut Past record: Bronze medal in 50m Rifle 3 Positions at the 2014 Incheon Asian games Rio Prospects: Slowly growing under the shadows of star Indian shooters like Abhinav Bindra and Gagan Narang, Chain Singh will be India’s in-form man at Rio Olympics. Not a favourite for a medal, but certainly a dark horse. [caption id=“attachment_1732239” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] India’s Chain Singh. AP[/caption] Try, try till you succeed, seems to be the Chain Singh’s motto. After thrice missing out on a Rio berth by a close margins, Chain Singh refused to throw in the towel and in August 2015 finally booked an Olympics berth at the shooting World Cup in Gabala in Azerbaijan. An armyman by profession, giving up isn’t in his dictionary. Expressing his delight at making the games, Chain said it was a beginning of a long-kept dream. “It is my dream to win a medal for India at the Olympics. Today I am very happy because winning an Olympic quota place is the first step in that direction. There is still a lot of work ahead for me,” Chain had told Indian Express. Born in militant-affected Doda district of Jammu & Kashmir, Chain grew up with the sound of a gun-fire. The 26-year-old will go into Rio under the shadows of some of India’s shooting heavyweights like Abhinav Bindra and Gagan Narang, despite bagging a whooping six gold medals at the South Asian games earlier this year. It won’t be the worst thing to happen for Chain Singh though, the pressure would be off him and that might just be the key for him to win a medal for India and fulfill his dream.