New Delhi:
Giving his fans a reason to rejoice, India's ace shooter Gagan Narang confirmed his participation in the Commonwealth Games.
Narang, who after being overlooked for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award for the third straight year, had said that he was demotivated and might skip the Games.
"I really don't know if I have the motivation to continue or even shoot at the Commonwealth Games and I have to take a break at the moment. I need a break to find a little motivation to continue," Narang had then said.
"I was really down after I was overlooked for the third consecutive time. I had to prove myself at the World Championship. Now I want to know how long should I keep proving myself for the Khel Ratna," he had asked.
He, however, seems to have found enough motivation, as he has given his consent to take part in the Games.
"The events of the fortnight were an eye opener for me. An over whelming response from well-wishers, family and the shooting fraternity has moved me."
"I have made up my mind to shoot in the coming Commonwealth Games," Narang said.
"There is no short of motivation when you see so many people support you and they want you to succeed. Doesn't matter now if I did or did not get the award. It is a story of the past for me. I shall start training for the Games shortly," he added.
World No 2 Narang became the first Indian to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics after he won the bronze in the 10 metre air rifle at the World Championship in Munich earlier this month.
"I was on a break after coming back from Munich, in this period I consulted my family, my coaches and the federation for my future course of actions. The only answer I got from all of them was shoot to prove a point. Show that you are a champ! And such events are a true test of character. Although my achievements of the last four years have been ignored, I have decided to just keep doing my job from now on , which is to win medals and glory for India. I feel winning a medal for my county is even bigger than any award. If the government feels I deserve any award in future I will get it but from now on I would never expect it or will even talk about it. I am planning to undergo mind training sessions with my mind trainer to focus on the big events ahead. Meanwhile I want to say a big thank you to my sponsors Olympic Gold Quest and Sahara," Narang said.