Winning gold with an Asian Games record is just the beginning: shooter Kynan Chenai

Heritage: Champion shooter Kynan Chenai with father Darius Chenai.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Kynan Chenai, a member of the gold-medal-winning team in the men’s trap event in the ongoing Asian Games in Hangzhou, said that the team gold should only spur him to realise his ultimate dream of winning an Olympic medal in Paris next year.

“It was a great team effort. I consider this gold as a stepping stone in that direction. Winning the gold with an Asian Games record is like icing on the cake,” the 32-year-old shooter from the city said.

“We will be having a national camp in Delhi from October 10 to prepare for the Olympic qualifying event in Korea,” he added.

“Honestly, I was expecting to win something after all the efforts put by myself and by the entire coaching staff in the national camp preceding the Asiad,” Kynan said in a chat with The Hindu.

“We had a lot of matches in simulated conditions, trying to get a feel of the kind of pressure and expectation expected in the Asian Games which by no means is any less in terms of standard and competition,” explained the 2016 Rio Olympian.

There was nothing specific where I had focussed, in fact, it was just a conscious effort to show all-round improvement,” Kynan told The Hindu on his way back home.

“Obviously, the entire Indian contingent was trying really hard to reap a rich haul of medals in the Asiad and it was great to see such a terrific show by the country’s shooters,” he said.

Stepping stone

“Apparently, the more finals you appear in, the more experienced you will be. I don’t think I can call the Asiad gold as a defining moment of my career but a reminder of a lot more to come,” Kynan, whose father Darius Chenai was also a national shooting champion, said.

“The journey has been immensely satisfying and there was never a thought of quitting at any stage. It is like a ‘never enough’ feeling that keeps me motivated,” he added.

“I dedicate this medal to the entire coaching team,” signed off the champion shooter.