AHMEDABAD: If there is a cliché that the Narwal siblings - Manish, Shikha, and Shiva - are tired of hearing, it is 'it runs in the family'. No matter how repetitive it may get, it won't stop being true. The siblings are perhaps the only trio in Indian shooting to make it to the India 10m air pistol squad in various categories.
While Manish, 21, won gold at the Tokyo Paralympics, Shiva, 16, is part of the men's 10m air pistol team and will participate in the ISSF World Championships in Cairo later this month. Shiva has won World Cup silver and ISSF Junior Cup gold, while Shikha also has the junior World Cup gold under her belt. Sister Shikha, 17, will represent the country in the junior women's 10m air pistol team at Cairo.
Shikha and Shiva are representing Haryana in the ongoing National Games in Ahmedabad. "It wasn't planned. We were not even aware of the sport till Manish bhaiya started in 2016," Shikha, who will play her match on Sunday, said. "But it is a good feeling to be in the team and play the sport with my siblings," she said.
It all started when Manish, who has an impairment in his right arm, took up shooting after the sport was suggested by his father's friend. "I think it was natural for my siblings to take up the sport, as they saw me shoot at the range," Manish said.
Playing the same sport has brought the siblings together and their bonding has only improved. "Earlier, like every other siblings, even we used to fight. But the sport has brought us closer. We have started sharing emotions with each other and it is a good feeling," Manish said.
There is a lot of helping that happens on the range too. "Shiva is the youngest, but he started shooting before I did, so he helps me clear my doubts. We all sit together often to discuss shooting and it is helping all of us," Shikha said.
