2024-02-24 23:08:40
Ready look, sharp aim, shout of warning and shot… A routine that is repeated over and over again until the end of the 25-shot shooting at the Tafí Viejo Hunters Club; a repetition that not only requires maximum concentration, but also maintains momentum in the face of possible mistakes typical of the dynamism of the discipline. With all those condiments on top, Joaquin Cisneros y Ricardo Baralo They will be part of the Argentine team that will represent the country in the XIV Americas Shotgun Championship in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, which will take place between February 29 to March 9 in which they will seek to achieve the great objective: the quota for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“We can make a mistake and win the Olympic place, ha,” anticipates the 19-year-old. But… why would it be a “mistake”? Although both shooters began preparation at the beginning of February, when they traveled to Santiago del Estero to train under the orders of Fernando BorelloThe truth is that both recognize that they could not have a preparation according to the magnitude of the tournament. “We held a kind of concentration among the entire team,” Baralo completed, remembering that the last member of the delegation is the Santiago native. Jose Palacio.
As explained by the competitors, the high costs of inputs is a crucial factor that complicated the preparation of the tournament. “At a minimum we would have to be shooting three times a week, three rounds of 25 shots, and we are only coming once a week to do two rounds,” says Cisneros. “Basic training for this type of competition is around $2 million and there is less and less support from the Federation. Despite this, the boys have the technique to beat anyone,” emphasizes Mauricio Diamante, president of the Hunters Club.
Despite this gap in preparation, Cisneros and Baralo are optimistic about doing a great job and, why not, making it to Paris. “We have hope because the United States is already qualified and they are the best. So, if they win those places they go to the second, but there are many countries where the teams are completely dedicated to this. But we are not afraid because we know that you can get up and be an airplane, ha,” details the industrial engineer, remembering that today they will begin their trip to the Caribbean country. “Guatemala and Venezuela also already have an Olympic place. So, if they finish in the first positions, that will happen to the remaining positions,” the 19-year-old speculates.
When describing the possible candidates, Cisneros commented that Brazil, Peru and Mexico will do everything possible to earn the place that will provide competition. “They are countries that follow international tournaments, in which there are some Olympic places and they couldn’t get them, they are going to go for everything now,” he indicated.
Comparing the way of facing the competition, Cisneros assured that with his partner they try to generate an environment of greater “tranquility.” “You see the professionals who are all focused on their respective teams and we are much more relaxed. We laugh a lot, we drink soda and a lot of other things. It shows that they are going to do their job. On the other hand, we help each other a lot with the doubts we have about the competition. We always look for both of us to grow and continue to rise,” he describes.
On the other hand, both comment that it will not be the first time they share a delegation. “When we went to the World Cup in Italy, which is a Shooting festival, we were taking photos, we were filming and we were amazed by what we saw that for them were normal things,” Cisneros remembers.
According to Baralo, this competition on European soil was his first great experience and he acknowledged that the nerves were not absent. “Every competition is where one gains the so-called right of floor. It happened to me at the World Cup in Italy that, when I entered for the first time, I started shooting and I was trembling to be on par with professionals. But now I feel calmer and with more room to compete than last year,” he confesses. “It’s incredible to go see people that you usually see on videos. Afterwards, they are standing next to you and you say: ‘What am I doing here?’” Cisneros adds.
Both competitors assured that it will be the first time they are in the Dominican capital. “We know that the Dominican Republic is a Caribbean paradise. Let’s see if one day we can escape to the beach, hahaha,” says Baralo, making a brief comparison with Tucumán. “The climate is very similar. There is a lot of humidity just like here, so we will be used to it. It’s also a sugar area, so it’s a little bit similar. The good thing is that this time is its winter part. It’s going to be hot, but not as hot as if we were in July, but the temperature is going to be very similar to here,” he adds, remembering that they travel a few days beforehand to see the court where the tournament will be held.
Against this backdrop, tropical rains can be a determining factor for shooters’ performance. “The competition is not suspended if it appears. In those cases, one loses visibility, the grip on the shotgun and support of the face decreases. The good thing is that it is a complication for everyone,” he points out.
In this sense, Cisneros explained that the use of lenses is harmed by the presence of this climatic factor. “I don’t like shooting with glasses, but they are mandatory. They fog up and you see the other competitors who are constantly cleaning them. Furthermore, if you change the background or the color of the dishes, you have to choose the color of the lenses that you are going to use to see well,” he explains.
Thus, both Baralo and Cisneros will seek to achieve the great “feat” and achieve the dream that they have pursued so much in these years.