Manish Narwal: Lesser-known facts about the Paralympic gold-medalist

Shooter Manish Narwal smashed the Paralympic record to clinch India’s third gold in the ongoing Tokyo Games on September 4. The 19-year-old, who holds the world record in the category, shot a total of 218.2, a Paralympic record, to claim the medal in his debut Games.

Also Read: Manish Narwal clinches India’s 3rd gold, Adana bags silver

Here are some lesser known facts about the star medalist:

Ambition and Role Model:
Manish’s ambition was to win gold at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. His idols are Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi.

Hobbies:
Manish loves watching football and movies.

Previous honours:
In 2020, he received the Arjuna Award in India.

Impairment:
He has an impairment to his right hand. He noticed there was something different when he was in the first grade. Something was wrong with his right arm. He cried a lot and was afraid to be in front of people.

Residence:
Manish is a resident of Faridabad.

Also Read: Avani Lekhara: 10 lesser known facts about the Paralympic gold-medalist

Languages Spoken:
Manish speaks Hindi and English fluently.

When did he begin the sport?
He began shooting in 2016 in Ballabhgarh, India.

Why shooting?
He always wanted to be a footballer as he loved outdoor sports, but due to his impairment, he couldn’t play the game beyond local club level. A close friend of his father told him to think about introducing him to shooting. His father took him to the 10X Shooting Academy in Ballabgarh [India], run by coach Rakesh Thakur. This made him excel in the sport and Manish owes his success to him.