New Delhi, Jul 17 (PTI) Peter Wilson knows what it takes to stand on top of the Olympic podium. The 2012 London double trap gold medallist has already etched his name into shooting history, but the decorated Brit now wants to create champions rather than just be remembered as one.
Having already guided Nathan Hales to Olympic gold for Great Britain at the Paris 2024 Games, Wilson has turned his attention to Indian trap shooting, hoping to spark a long-awaited revival in the discipline.
The first signs are already encouraging.
Under Wilson’s guidance, Neeru Dhanda recently became the first Indian woman trap shooter to win an ISSF World Cup gold medal, achieving the feat in Lonato while also setting a new national record. For Wilson, the breakthrough is far bigger than a single medal — it could be the moment that transforms Indian trap shooting.
“I hope so. What I hope is that Neeru pushes the boundaries for the rest of the squad, that they themselves must continue to push, because they want that glory, they want that success,” Wilson said.
The Olympic champion, who was awarded an MBE for his services to the sport, believes champions inspire champions.
Before arriving in India, Wilson scripted another remarkable success story by coaching Nathan Hales to Olympic glory in Paris. Now, he hopes to revive an Indian trap programme that has struggled to consistently produce world-class results since Manavjit Sandhu became world champion in 2006.
Wilson believes Neeru has “broken the mould.” “And so yes, in short, I believe that she has broken the mould, and I sincerely hope that with more hard work and more time, everyone else can do the same. It’s been bubbling away for some time. I’ve seen the progress, we’ve mapped the progress in the squad as a whole,” he said.
The Richard Faulds effect ================== Wilson knows firsthand how one athlete’s success can inspire an entire generation.
He recalled watching fellow Briton Richard Faulds dominate double trap after winning Olympic gold at the Sydney 2000 Games — a success that motivated young shooters, including Wilson himself, to raise their own standards.
“What I think this shows — and I used Richard as an example back in the UK — is that he excelled, he pushed the boundaries, and we either sat back and watched him in the final, or we ourselves chose to raise the bar, to push ourselves mentally and physically to be the best versions we could be.
“I was fed up watching Richard shoot every final, and what I hope is that Neeru pushes the boundaries for the rest of the squad, that they themselves must continue to push, because they want that glory, they want that success.” A medal that was coming ================ Wilson says Neeru’s breakthrough did not surprise him.
He had seen the signs after she won mixed team bronze alongside Vivaan Kapoor at the ISSF World Cup in Almaty earlier this year, adding to the Asian Championship gold she secured in Kazakhstan last year.
“Yeah, I felt that it was coming. She shot very well only a few months earlier with Vivaan in the mixed team, winning bronze. Again, it’s about stepping stones.
“Even this success that she’s had in Lonato is a stepping stone towards the Asian Games.” For Wilson, the road stretches much further than this year’s Asian Games.
Those performances, he says, “are stepping stones towards Olympic quota places… those illustrious golden tickets, and ultimately the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
“She’s young, so beyond that, she has the ability to go and go and go. India’s Olympic trap team now is very young, and I think it has a very bright future.” The four-quota mission ================= While Wilson believes Neeru is capable of securing an Olympic quota this year, he is careful not to burden her with expectations.
“I hope so. But I don’t want to pin anything on Neeru. She’s a wonderful talent. India is very lucky to have her. She works incredibly hard. She’s very diligent. But there’s a long qualification process starting in Doha at the end of this year through to just before the Olympic Games.” Instead, Wilson has set himself a broader target.
“My goal as the foreign coach here in India is to win four quota places — two in women’s trap and two in men’s trap — and to get the very best out of every individual athlete.” He also stressed that Neeru’s World Cup triumph carried extra significance because it came against the strongest field in world shooting.
“That’s high pressure, high stakes, and that’s what you want it to be. This is what we all strive for.” Wilson’s coaching philosophy centres on treating every athlete differently.
“Every individual athlete has their quirks in training, the way they think, the way they operate. It’s my job to work with all of them individually and figure out how to get the most out of them.” With Neeru, his focus has been on refining both the technical and mental aspects of her shooting.
“There were a handful of technical aspects I personally have been working on with Neeru. The goal is to keep her stable mentally, work one target at a time, which is easier said than done…and make sure she’s technically sound in every area, from how she stands, her hips, her shoulders, even her mouth. It sounds easy, but it’s about doing it over and over again.” Wilson then breaks into a smile while admitting the one challenge he has yet to master.
“I suppose the only area that I’ve struggled with is my Hindi.” To overcome the language barrier, he often relies on India’s support staff to ensure every technical detail is clearly communicated.
“I try to make sure that the intricacies of the technique are relayed through the help of the other coaches so that she fully understands what I expect of her. And she’s been delivering.” PTI AM AM AH AH
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