Rubina Francis, Arjuna Awardee, Talks About Her Comeback for Paris 2024
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Synopsis
Rubina Francis, a bronze medalist at the Paris Paralympics 2024, expresses her gratitude for receiving the Arjuna Award, highlighting her journey and mental resilience in para shooting. She reflects on her past challenges and the importance of sports psychology in achieving success.
Key Takeaways
- Rubina Francis received the Arjuna Award for her international achievements.
- She secured a bronze medal at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.
- Her journey includes overcoming challenges after the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.
- Mental health and sports psychology play crucial roles in her performance.
- Francis emphasizes the importance of planning and preparation in sports.
New Delhi, Jan 24 (NationPress) Bronze medalist Rubina Francis from the Paris Paralympics Games 2024 recently shared her emotions about receiving the Arjuna Award in recognition of her accomplishments at both national and international levels.
Francis was a guest on the House of Glory podcast, an initiative by the Gagan Narang Sports Foundation. She has made a mark in para shooting, especially in the Women's 10m Air Pistol SH1 category.
Continuing her impressive journey, Rubina has secured her spot to represent India in the 2024 Paralympics in Paris and achieved her first Olympic medal—a bronze.
“Receiving the Arjuna Award is a tremendous honor, and I am immensely grateful to the Indian government for acknowledging my efforts. This moment holds great significance for me and my family, as earning a National award is a dream for any athlete. It feels like my hard work has finally borne fruit, and after all the obstacles I faced in the last 3-4 years, this recognition is even more meaningful,” she stated.
Francis qualified for her inaugural Olympics during the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics but ended up in seventh place. During her chat, she discussed how her performance in Tokyo placed her in a challenging position, leading her to contemplate leaving the sport.
“I reflected on my performance at home. I meticulously documented what went wrong and afterward, I reviewed it. That’s when I recognized how immature I had been in Tokyo. Athletes need to plan effectively before such significant events, but I lacked that preparation. Both I and my country faced the repercussions. It was disappointing for everyone,” Francis explained.
Nevertheless, she managed to address her shortcomings and applied her learnings in Paris, which contributed to her success in the tournament. Following her Tokyo loss, she dedicated six months to personal development, focusing on mental control to excel in her sport.
Francis encountered further challenges, losing quotas in nearly all quota matches from 2022 to 2024. Yet, she maintained her perseverance and approached the Paralympics with unwavering determination.
“I don’t allow feelings of demotivation to linger for long. They only last for a month or two at most. After that, I return to my normal self, which is crucial. Understanding sports psychology is vital; had I grasped this before Tokyo, I might have secured a medal or at least performed well. I wouldn’t have felt regret or wasted six months,” Francis remarked, emphasizing the significance of mental health.
