1. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore's
silver medal at the Athens
Olympics in 2004 not only helped
Indian shooters break their
mental shackles and run into a
world of immense possibility, but
in a way instilled a sense of pride
and confidence in Indian
sportspersons as whole. The
results were there to be seen in
the coming years, as the Indians
started making their presence felt
consistently at the international
level, including the World
Championships and four years
later Abhinav Bindra reached the zenith of success in Beijing when he bagged the first individual gold medal for
the country in the Olympics.
A few sports in which the Indians have been able to match the very best in business, shooting is one discipline
which is being looked upon as a potential medal winner at the London Olympics as well. With as many as 11
shooters (highest ever in Olympic history) making the grade for the mega tournament, all eyes are set on the
marksmen to bring the Olympic glory to the country once again. The shooters on their part are leaving no
stone unturned and are hopeful of securing more than a medal for their country this time in London.
“We all are set for the mega event. For me it’s more responsibility
than pressure. It makes me feel that I am more responsible towards
my country. When people believe in me and my ability than it’s my
duty to give people what they want. I am hoping the shooting
contingent to bring 2-3 medals at least,” said World Champion
Ronjan Sodhi, adding that all the 11 shooters who have got the
quota place are good enough to win a medal.
“Everyone has one a big medal in some or the other tournament. No
one has qualified by coming sixth or seventh in the tournament.
Everyone has won a medal on their own,” said Ronjan.
Gagan Narang, the first Indian shooter to make the grade to London,
too had been advocating the same words and has been showing
immense confidence in the shooting contingent. “I feel the performance
in London will be better than Beijing. We are a better prepared
contingent this time. I am expecting a few medals from the shooting
contingent. But a clearer picture will emerge closer to the Games,” he
had said in an interview to Indian Sports News, adding that what
separates a medal winner from the rest is their ability to absorb
pressure. “I feel I do have that ability when it comes to big matches.
But I also take one thing at a time. Hopefully all goes well when time
comes around.”
Meanwhile, life hasn’t been
the same for Shagun
Chowdhary ever since she became the first Indian woman to qualify
for the 2012 London Olympics in trap shooting after finishing 4th in
the World Championships in Belgrade. “My life has just become
more intense than it ever has been. When one makes it to the
Olympics, he/she has to have a certain amount of caliber. I will
never say I can’t win an Olympic gold; else I would not have
qualified in the first place. I will go to the Olympics with all the hope
in the world and also all the training under my belt,” said the
shooter.
Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, whose Olympic silver medal was sort of a precursor for shooting revolution in
India, is also hopeful of a good show from the Indian shooting contingent. “Our shooters are doing extremely
well. They are matching the international standard. You want me to say that we will win at least 2-3 medals
but what I intend to say that our performance will be good,” he said.
The young lots too seem to be confident about their seniors’ performance and are of the view that Indian
marksmen will better their records at the Olympics. 17-year-old Vishal Mulchandani, who was participating in
the 55th National Championship in New Delhi, said, “India will win many medals this time. I personally want
Ronjan Sodhi to win as he is my favourite player,” he said.

2. Talking about the growing stature of the game in the country and India winning 11 Olympic quota places ,
some give the credit to the government, some credit it to the happening of the Commonwealth Games, while
others attribute it to the consistent performance of the shooters at international level.
“The credit should go to the government. Lots of money has been invested in this sport recently. The
government has put everything to improve the stature of this sport. Another main reason was the
Commonwealth Games. The shooting team performed really well in the Games and gained a lot of confidence
which helped us to get the quota place. I would say the Commonwealth Games were a blessing in disguise for
us,” said Ronjan Sodhi.
Col Rathore too supported his compatriot’s view. “The reason is that we learn from each other and when one of
us does well, we try to learn from him or her. So I would say that it is a cumulative effort ,” Rathore said,
adding that Commonwealth Games was a great thing that happened in Indian Shooting. “Our shooters won a
lot of medals during the Games and winning does help a player in growing. It made us more confident and
proved that we can do well on big stage,” he said.
But for youngsters like Vishal, it’s their seniors’ performance which helped them to take on to this sport.
“According to me shooting came into lime light after the Athens Olympics when Rathore sir won the silver
medal. After that Indian shooters have always performed well and that encouraged me to enter the sport,” said
Vishal.