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Mairaj, a former left-handed hitter and right-handed bowler for Uttar Pradesh, decided to switch to shooting and his life now revolves around his shotgun, cartridges, and those clay targets. Mairaj, who represented India at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, is now, like many other athletes from around the world, looking at glory at the Tokyo Games. He wants to be the first Olympic shotgun gold medalist for the country.
But before he decided to pick up the shotgun, Mairaj led his state Uttar Pradesh in the U16 (Vinoo Mankad) and U19 (CK Nayudu) cricket tournaments.
In an exclusive interview with Timesofindia.com, Mairaj took a walk down memory lane and recalled his cricket journey, hitting alongside Sehwag and causing him to abandon cricket to shoot.
THE SEHWAG ASSAULT
It was 1996 when a young left-handed Mairaj came to the fold to join Sehwag in the middle during their inter-university match. Both represented Jamia Millia Islamia University. The two hit with their fists and Mairaj went to the end of the non-forward.
A young Sehwag, in typical style, started his attack from the beginning and helped Jamia win the match.
“It was an inter-university match in Jalandhar (Punjab) in 1996. Sehwag and I were playing for Jamia University against Punjab University. He came in as a starter and I came in at number 3. He scored 74 blisters on just 38 or 39 balls in that game. I came out on the 19th. We won that game, “Mairaj recalled, speaking to TimesofIndia.com.
“Sehwag was a fearless hitter from the start. He never hesitated to hit any bowler out of the park. We all knew that he would continue to play for India. He had an innate talent. He was never afraid to go out and I think he is the most natural player I have ever seen. I have seen many (international) players but their eye-hand coordination is amazing. Give him the bat and ask anyone to play, that’s all, he will do the rest, “said Mairaj.
MAIRAJ, THE CRICKETER
Mairaj was very young when he was presented with cricket. With his forceful hitting style, Mairaj soon became a vital cog in the wheel of the Uttar Pradesh junior team. His winning punches were rewarded with the captaincy of the UP junior team as well. Like all budding cricketers, Mairaj also wanted to represent India one day.
“I was the captain of the CK Nayudu team for Uttar Pradesh and also Vinoo Mankad. I played Under-16, which is Vinoo Mankad, and Under-19, which is CK Nayudu. I played with and against players like Mohammad Saif (brother of Mohammad Kaif), Rizwan Shamshad, Feroze Ghayas, Rishikesh Kanitkar, Vijay Dahiya, Vijay Yadav, “said Mairaj.
“I am a shooter but I am still attached to my first love cricket. I’m still following cricket, ”said the 44-year-old.
THE CHANGE: FROM CRICKET TO SHOT
Like any other budding cricketer in the country, Mairaj also wanted to wear the Team India jersey someday.
“My ultimate goal was to represent my country. I wanted India to be written on my shirt. I was desperate to see the Indian flag on my shirt. That is all. This was my dream from the first day of playing cricket, ”the Indian shooter told TimesofIndia.com.
“When I discovered that reaching the international level and representing India was difficult, then I thought of a second option. There was great competition. Many were ahead of me and much more talented than me. They deserved more opportunities than me. Because at age 27 or 28, if you don’t get to Ranji’s team, things become difficult for you, “he said.
“Until 2003, I tried a lot and played several leagues, but things didn’t work out. One day, I went to visit a field with one of my cousins. I met Mansher Singh, Raja Randhir Singh and many more. My cousin introduced them to me saying who is an Olympian, Asian Games medalist, Commonwealth Games medalist, etc. The meeting with those shooting legends really fascinated me. I saw the Indian flag on their shirts. That’s all I wanted. I decided I will shoot Now, for the first three or four years, I shot for fun and then I took it as a permanent career, “said Mairaj, who has a World Cup medal, 4 Asian Championship medals and more than 20 National Championship medals.
“Due to cricket, my reflexes, concentration level and fitness were really good. My coaches didn’t have to do much work in those areas. I started to shoot my passion. He was 24 years old at the time. I still remember, I shot 112 in a national competition and then I got a call from NRAI that they had called me for the selection test for the Indian team. When I read the words: Indian team, I was really elated. It was a dream come true for me. There has been no hindsight since then. My biggest competition was the 2006 Asian Games, ”said the 44-year-old shooter.
RIVER NOW IN THE PAST, MAIRAJ LOOKS AT THE GLORY OF TOKYO
Mairaj was part of the Indian shooting squad at the Rio 2016 Olympics. Mairaj, who had won the quota after winning a World Cup silver in Rio in April 2016, was unable to reach the final round of the event. skeet.
But, the 44-year-old, who has qualified for the Tokyo Games, is confident that his experience in Rio will be an added bonus at the next edition of the Olympic Games, which is now scheduled for 2021.
“Every time you participate in a major or minor competition, you always learn something. What I learned from Rio will help me a lot in Tokyo. My main objective will be to do my best in qualifying to be able to enter the final. There will be 6 shooters who will compete in the final. That means that their winning percentage will reach 50 percent as 6 shooters will fight for three medals. I am also in regular contact with my coach and plan accordingly. This blockade has given me more time to prepare. I am focusing on both my physical and mental training, “Mairaj confidently told TimesofIndia.com.
“I’ve been taking it one step at a time. I have focused on the “per station per objective” rule. This has helped me a lot. I am much stronger than Rio right now. I have added four more years of experience after Rio to my resume. I am sure that Tokyo will be a good Olympiad for me. Mairaj’s main opponent is Mairaj Ahmed Khan. I will be competing with myself. I have to beat my best score at the Olympics, ”he said.
THE GOAL IS TO BE AN OLYMPIC CHAMPION, NOT JUST AN OLYMPIC
Mairaj does not want to be called an Olympian when he retires. He wants to be remembered as an Olympic champion. And that means bagging top honors. So far, Abhinav Bindra is the only individual Olympic gold medalist in India.
“They all go with one goal, which is to win an Olympic medal. I will also go with the same goal. Each country will send its athletes to win an Olympic medal. My country will also send Mairaj Khan to win an Olympic medal. I will do my best to bring Olympic gold to my country. This is my dream, goal and passion to win an Olympic gold medal for my country. I want to become the first Indian to be a shotgun individual Olympic gold medalist, ”said a confident Mairaj.
“There are many Olympians in our country, but only one is an (individual) Olympic champion. I want people and fans to call me an Olympic champion, not an Olympic champion. They should remember me forever, ”Mairaj signed.
