Gagan Narang deserves the Khel Ratna more than anybody else in the Indian sporting fraternity. Shimon Sharif finds out why.

In the last three years this shooter has proven his consistency at the highest level of  the sport where he has let his rifle do all the talking each time he stood at a firing lane, shooting a perfect score of 600/600 in a World Cup Final last year to make an unbreakable World Record. This speaks volumes of this great shooter.

He has been recommended for the Khel Ratna this year by NRAI, but it is learnt that the selection committee's first choice is women’s boxer Marykom. The committee has also recommended the names of Beijing Olympic bronze medallists Vijender (boxing) and Sushil Kumar (wrestling) to the Sports Ministry for the Khel Ratna.

Gagan should be able to bag the award if it truly is on merit over the last three years or so.

Gagan is also the only Indian so far to win two medals in a single World Cup. The win was very special as it showed his capability to win multiple  medals at major competitions ahead.

"I know my job is to keep performing and if my country feels so it will honour me with the award this year. All I can say is that I have put in my 100% in these last few years to bring glory to my country", said Narang.

An Olympic medal is an Olympic medal no doubt, but it is true that that no one has been more deserving than Narang to get the accolades.

This might have been debated in the committee or it might have not, who knows, but one thing we surely know is that this Top Gun will still continue to shine bright for India.

(The writer is a shooter and founder of indianshooting.com)