Gagan Narang facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Gagan Narang

Narang winning Gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
Personal information
Nationality	Indian
Born	(1983-05-06) 6 May 1983 (age 42) Madras, Tamil Nadu
Residence	Hyderabad, Telangana
Occupation	Rifle shooting
Medal record Men's shooting Representing  India Olympic Games Bronze 2012 London 10 m air rifle World Championships Bronze 2010 Munich 10 m air rifle Asian Games Silver 2010 Guangzhou 10 m air rifle Silver 2010 Guangzhou 10 m air rifle team Bronze 2006 Doha 10 m air rifle team Bronze 2006 Doha 50 m rifle 3 positions Bronze 2006 Doha 50 m rifle 3 positions team Asian Championships Gold 2007 Kuwait City 10 m air rifle team Gold 2012 Doha 50 m rifle 3 positions team Silver 2007 Kuwait City 50 m rifle prone Silver 2007 Kuwait City 50 m rifle prone team Silver 2012 Doha 10 m air rifle team Bronze 2007 Kuwait City 50 m rifle 3 positions team Bronze 2012 Doha 50 m rifle 3 positions Commonwealth Games Gold 2006 Melbourne 10m air rifle Gold 2006 Melbourne 10m air rifle pairs Gold 2006 Melbourne 50m rifle 3 positions Gold 2006 Melbourne 50m rifle 3 positions pairs Gold 2010 Delhi 10m air rifle Gold 2010 Delhi 10m air rifle pairs Gold 2010 Delhi 50m rifle 3 positions Gold 2010 Delhi 50m rifle 3 positions pairs Silver 2014 Glasgow 50m rifle prone Bronze 2014 Glasgow 50m rifle 3 positions Commonwealth Championships Gold 2005 Melbourne 10 m air rifle Gold 2005 Melbourne 10 m air rifle pairs Gold 2010 Delhi 10 m air rifle Gold 2010 Delhi 10 m air rifle pairs Gold 2010 Delhi 10 m air rifle badge Gold 2010 Delhi 50 m rifle 3 positions pairs Gold 2010 Delhi 50 m rifle prone pairs Gold 2010 Delhi 50 m rifle prone badge Silver 2005 Melbourne 10 m air rifle badge Silver 2010 Delhi 50 m rifle 3 positions Silver 2010 Delhi 50 m rifle prone Silver 2017 Brisbane 50 m rifle prone

Gagan Narang is a famous Indian sport shooter. He was born on May 6, 1983. He is known for winning a bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. This happened in the Men's 10-meter Air Rifle event. Gagan Narang has also been a part of the important Padma Award committee in 2023. He is supported by the Olympic Gold Quest, an organization that helps Indian athletes.

Early Life and Family

Gagan Narang was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. His parents are Bhimsen Narang and Amarjit. His family is from a Punjabi Hindu background. His father used to be a chief manager for Air India.

Gagan's family originally came from a village in Haryana. However, because of his father's job, they moved to Hyderabad. Gagan grew up and went to school there. He studied at Gitanjali Senior School. Later, he earned a degree in Computer Applications from Osmania University in Hyderabad.

How Gagan Started Shooting

Gagan Narang started shooting when he was 14 years old. His father gave him an air pistol in 1997. Gagan practiced his shooting skills a lot in his backyard. His father even shared a story that Gagan showed a talent for shooting very early. When he was just two years old, he shot a balloon with a toy pistol!

Gagan Narang's Amazing Career

Gagan Narang has won many medals and set records in his shooting career. He is one of India's most successful shooters.

Early Wins and Records

• In 2003, Gagan won a gold medal at the Afro Asian games in Hyderabad. This was for the Men's 10-meter air rifle competition.
• He also won a gold medal at the 2006 ISSF World Cup in the Air Rifle event. He won this event again in April 2010.
• Before the 2008 Olympics, Gagan set a new personal best score. He shot 704.3 in an event in Germany. This was higher than the world record at that time.
• At the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Gagan Narang won an amazing four gold medals!

Breaking Records and Olympic Dreams

Gagan Narang showed his skill by qualifying for the 2008 ISSF World Cup Final. He had won a gold medal at a World Cup event in China earlier that year.

• In the qualification round, Gagan shot a perfect score of 600.
• In the final round, he scored 103.5, making his total score 703.5. This set a new world record!
• He broke the previous record held by Thomas Farnik from Austria.
• Gagan said his win was extra special because it happened on the same day Barack Obama won the US Presidential election.

Commonwealth and Asian Games Success

Gagan Narang continued his winning streak at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. He added four more gold medals for India.

• In the Men's 10-meter Air Rifle singles event, he shot another perfect 600. This was a new record for the Games.
• At the Asian Games 2010, Gagan won a silver medal in his favorite event.
• He also teamed up with Abhinav Bindra and Sanjeev Rajput. Together, they won another silver medal for India in the team event. China won the gold.
• Gagan won both of his silver medals on the very first day of the Asian Games.

Olympic Medal and Later Achievements

Gagan Narang achieved his dream of winning an Olympic medal at the 2012 London Olympics.

• He won the bronze medal in the 10-meter air rifle event. His total score was 701.1.
• This made him India's first medal winner at the 2012 Games.
• He became only the third Indian shooter to win an Olympic medal.
• He was very close to the silver medalist, Niccolo Campriani of Italy, and the gold medalist, Alin George Moldoveanu of Romania.
• At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Gagan won two more medals. He got a silver in the 50-meter rifle prone event and a bronze in the 50-meter rifle 3 positions event.

Awards and Honors

Gagan Narang has received many important awards for his achievements in shooting.

• In 2011, he was given the Padma Shree Award. This is one of India's highest civilian honors.
• He was also chosen for the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award for 2010. This is the highest sports award in India. The President of India, Pratibha Patil, presented him with this award on August 29, 2011.
• Gagan Narang was even invited to wave the checkered flag at the 2012 Indian Grand Prix car race.

Awards for 2012 Olympics Bronze Medal

After winning his bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, Gagan Narang received many cash prizes and gifts:

• The State Government of Haryana gave him 10 lakh rupees.
• The State Government of Andhra Pradesh gave him 5 lakh rupees.
• The State Government of Rajasthan also gave him 5 lakh rupees.
• The Steel Ministry of India gave him 2 lakh rupees.
• Sahara India Pariwar gave him 2 kilograms of gold!

Images for kids

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  The Olympic rings, a symbol of the Olympic Games where Gagan Narang won a bronze medal.