Manav Rachna Kirti Puraskar for Gagan Narang

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London Olympics bronze medallist Gagan Narang was conferred the prestigious 4^thManav Rachna Kirti Puraskar in a glittering ceremony and a packed house at the Manav Rachna International University premises on Thursday.

The marksman, who is also pursuing his management degree in the university, was cheered all the way from the city to the university auditorium with sports lovers from Faridabad and Haryana along with hundreds of students thronged the university campus to get a glimpse of one of the country’s most successful sporting icon. The award included Rs 11 lakh in cash, a memento and a trophy.

On the occasion University Chancellor, Dr. O.P. Bhalla said, " the jury had an unanimous decision in selecting Gagan's  (Narang) name. He has been a role model for the students with whom he has spent time to teach them the precision required for the sport."

Later addressing the gathering, an emotional Narang expressed his gratitude towards the support he has received from the university and people of this country and insisted that support from parents, schools, teachers and the associations could help India produce many more champions in the future.

Gagan thanked Manav Rachna for coming up with a sports based education system and shared his eagerness to work towards the development of facilities and sporting culture right from the school level.   The initiative (to produce champions) has to start from schools and a sport culture has to be imbibed,” said Gagan Narang.

“We need more corporate help and support and India has the possibility to win more than six medals (the number they got in London).... Nobody will then ask, why 1.2 billion people and only six medals,” said the 29-year-old, who also told the story of how his parents had to sell a plot of land for him to buy a new rifle.

“If the system supports, then the road becomes a lot easier and as a player one can then pursue their targets without bothering about anything,” he added.

Narang, who also visited the shooting range within the university campus and spoke to the budding shooters for a short while, exuded confidence that his medal would inspire people to look at sports as a career option. 

He said, shooting is currently looked as a "class" sport which he wants to convert into a "mass" sport. 

“ I got inspired from the Olympics theme of “Inspire Generation" and that is why I want my medal to travel across the country, in all schools and colleges. I want people and specially youngsters to hold the medal and see what it looks like. I hope this gesture will make them inspired to take up shooting as the chosen career option" said the London 2012 bronze medallist.