'Gladiator' Joydeep has a 'little' promise to keep

JAIPUR: If that sinking feeling gets into your head, you are bound to crumble. But if you have a gun to fire all odds, who would care about pressure?
That's exactly what Joydeep Karmakar must be thinking now. Having won the battle with a nagging tennis-elbow and back pain, the Kolkata-based shooter is now focusing only on his performance. In order to get acclimatized to the weather conditions, Karmakar has already checked into the Games Village, and the shooter feels it has helped him to get into the groove.
"It's wonderful to mix with all the participants. It's still like a dream," Karmakar says.
It hasn't been a fairy tale for him really, but Karmakar isn't ready to focus on the past. "Now, it's time to perform," he says confidently. The London weather was a major area of concern for all the athletes, but after touching base in the British capital, Karmakar says, it's all about settling down fast. "It's like spring here, and in India we aren't really used to such weather conditions, but then, you have to get ready fast," he points out.
The shooter who has been able to maintain the 'low-profile' throughout feels it's better to start that way. "It has helped me focus better," Karmakar frankly says. Ask him about his medal prospect, and all you get is a soft smile. "Time will tell," comes the reply.
Known for his indomitable spirit, Karmakar could be the dark horse for India this time, feels experts, but the shooter isn't ready to think that way. "All I'm thinking about now is to put up a good show," he admits. Having trained under German great Heinz Reinkemeier, Joydeep is beaming with confidence. "Practicing under Heinz was a treat. He taught me a lot and now it's time to implement them well," Karmakar admits.
For Karmakar, Olympic is not just an event, it's also about keeping a promise. Every time the shooter leaves for a competition, he has to make a promise to his 7-year old son Adriyan (who calls Joydeep 'Gladiator'), and this time too the little lad has told him to perform better.
"It's a bit difficult to stay away from the near ones, but now he's used to it. ," says a smiling Karmakar.
So, for the Kolkata-based shooter Olympics is not just about gunning for glory, but it's more of keeping a promise to a little one. So, on August 3, while the country will hope for a medal, little Adriyan perhaps sit in front of the Idiot Box and scream out loud--- go for gold 'Gladiator'!