Gagan Narang OLY

In 2012, Gagan Narang made history by winning India’s first medal at the London Olympics — a bronze in the 10m Air Rifle event.

His journey, however, began much earlier. As a two-year-old in Chennai, he took aim at balloons on Marina Beach with a toy gun. That spark turned into a lifelong pursuit. Years later, with unmatched precision and grit, he stood at the Royal Artillery Barracks in London — shooting for Olympic glory.

Born in Chennai and raised in Hyderabad, Gagan was introduced to shooting when his father gifted him an air pistol. His passion quickly grew, and by his early twenties, he was already a national-level champion. He made his Olympic debut in Athens 2004, and although he missed the final, he returned stronger.

In 2006, he won his first ISSF World Cup gold and went on to dominate the Commonwealth and Asian Games, winning multiple medals, including four golds in both 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Despite missing out narrowly in Beijing 2008, Gagan bounced back by setting a world record and winning gold at the ISSF World Cup Final the same year. His moment of redemption came in 2012, when he secured an Olympic bronze — a medal that inspired a generation.

A four-time Olympian, he retired after the Rio 2016 Olympics but never stepped away from the sport.

Through his Gun for Glory Shooting Academy, Gagan Narang has created pathways for hundreds of young shooters across India. His vision — to provide world-class training and facilities — has already shaped Olympians like Elavenil Valarivan and Ramita Jindal.

Today, as Vice President of the Indian Olympic Association and India’s Chef-de-Mission for the Paris 2024 Olympics, Gagan continues to serve the nation with the same focus and dedication he once brought to the shooting range.