Kynan Darius Chenai had no time to celebrate his victory. Hours after winning the bronze medal in the Trap Men’s final at that ongoing Asian Games, he was in the flight back to Hyderabad. For him, celebration begins at home. “I will sit and have a nice meal with my family. That’s celebration for me,” smiles Kynan, the Indian shooter in the Trap discipline, speaking to Hyderabad Chronicle.
The Indian men’s team, comprising Kynan Chenai, Prithviraj Tondaiman and Zoravar Singh Sandhu won the gold medal with an Asian Games record of 361 in the qualification. Kynan and Zoravar also qualified for the six-shooter finals for individual glory placed first and second respectively, raising hopes of a gold-silver finish. But it ended up with Kynan wining an individual bronze while Zoravar finished a distant fifth.
“We had a good amount of time to get acclimatised to the weather and light among other factors which helped me focus on my game,” informs Kynan, who topped the qualification and helped the team win gold medal. “The other two boys also shot really well. I did not expect to win but wanted to,” smiles the sharp shooter.
At one point in the contest, Kynan was in second spot, making 18 out of his 20 shots while Zoravar was 17 out of 20. Thereafter, both men experienced a slump with Zoravar being eliminated with 23 out of 30 shots and Kynan remaining just outside medal contention.
Better under pressure
“I perform better when under pressure and Asian games was one such competition. It’s a full team effort that led us to the gold. In the finals, there is very small margin which makes it difficult,” says the 32-year old, who is glad to return with a medal.
He used a Perazzi shotgun, one of the most expensive and top-tier Italian made gun, known for its high-quality craftsmanship.
Kynan mostly trains in Hyderabad and prior to the Asian games, he was training at a national camp in Delhi. “I also have an international coach David Kostelecki, a two-time Olympic Games medalist who lives in the Czech Republic. Whenever, I get a chance and circumstances allow me, I go there to train with him.”
Like father like son
Born in a reputed Parsi family in January 1991, Kynan’s father Darius Chenai, a businessman, is a former national shooting champion too. His mother Dinaz Noria is a well known wedding decor designer.
Kynan was 12 when he was introduced to the sport by his father. “Initially, I shot for fun. Then, I got used to the game and it ended up becoming an obsession by the time I turned 16,” says the shooter, who went to Hebron, a boarding school in Ooty where he spent 10 years.
During his school days, Kynan was part of the Field Hockey Team and Football Team, and also the school’s freestyle swimming champion for three years. “I played all sports but finally settled down with shooting,” says the shooter, who later studied at the Brunel University, London.
So what’s next?
“I am looking to qualify for the Paris Olympics, 2024,” informs Kynan. He won the Asia Olympic qualifiers held in Delhi in January 2016. Kynan also competed in the 2026 summer Olympics held in Rio and was placed 19 in the men’s Trap event.
Hobbies
Kynan loves playing video games and used to indulge in it a lot in his growing up days. “But I know it’s not too good for my eyes, so I ration it out and play, may be once a week,” he says adding he is completely focussed on his shooting now. Fitness is always the top priority. “I like to keep my mind and body ready for the competition,” points out Kynan, who swears by his fitness coach Dr Matthew Zane. He not only designs Kynan’s fitness programmes but also monitors his workouts on a daily basis.
Kynan and his father go camping quite a lot. Otherwise, one can spot Kynan around the shooting range or playing football with friends.
