Al Ain: Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore is a true icon Indian shooting. His 2004 silver medal in the double trap in the Athens Olympic Games was the first individual silver medal for his country after independence, and is regarded as the turning point of Indian Olympic achievement.
Rathore finished with a score of 44 in the final, one hit behind Shaikh Ahmad Bin Hasher Al Maktoum, who won the UAE’s first and only Olympic gold medal.
Rathore has a host of medals, awards and victories to his name. He won three gold medals and one silver at the Commonwealth Games during a stellar career. He then won a silver in the 2006 Asian Games in Doha in the double trap team event and a bronze in the individual section. He also claimed a bronze in the World Championship in Cyprus in 2003 and enjoyed dominance in the Asian Clary Target Championship, winning five gold medals in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2011. In this last occasion, he achieved a world record by hitting 148 (from 150) in Malaysia and last year he won the bronze when the championship was held at home in India.
Rathore’s country acclaimed his brilliant achievements, honouring him no fewer than nine times, including with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the highest sporting honour in India, the Arjuna Award, Padma Shri, a civilian award from the government, the Ati Vishishi Meda, and many others.
The colonel is not taking part in the ISSF World Cup Finals in Al Ain alone, either, as his son, Manavadity, who was born in 1999, is also competing.
And while many people regard sport as a means of securing big cash, shooting remains the preserve of noble amateurs who practise sport for entertainment with big companies reluctant to provide support to the athletes.
Gulf News met Colonel Rathore, who talked about his beginnings in the sport, the hardships he has endured in his country and his thoughts on the UAE shooting fraternity.
**How did you get into shooting?
I started the sport of shooting quite late in life. I was 28 years old when I first saw shooting ranges. My native place is the deserts of India and living with guns around was part of my growing up.
**Why shooting, bearing in mind it is not a money-generating sport like cricket, football, tennis and others?
Though I was good at sport – I passed out of the military academy as the best sportsman and the sword of honour for being the best all-round officer cadet – the opportunity of pursuing sport as a career was very limited in India, at least until a few years ago. So the first priority was a job for most of us, until later in life, when the opportunity presented itself, I immediately took up the sport I wanted to pursue.
**What are the problems that face Indian shooters and how can they be improved?
The most basic problems in India relates to laws governing arms and their restrictions, especially when one approaches police for an arms licence. Then there are issues with lack of resources, guidance and the opportunity to play the sport is highly limited. Thankfully the government and corporate firms are pitching in to help in all these fields.
**Your son is following in your footsteps. What role did you play in shaping his interest in the sport?
As a parent, the best we can do is to provide an opportunity to our children to pursue what they like. I treat it as sports education, which will have a positive impact on his life to become a better person.
** What do you think about this tournament, organisation, facilities and results?
It’s always a pleasure coming to the UAE to enjoy myself or compete. The people here are courteous and wonderful hosts and the infrastructure for sport and recreation is perfect. The World Cup at Al Ain will definitely produce very high results.
**What do you think about the retirement of Shaikh Ahmad bin Hasher Al Maktoum and what are your thoughts on the state of shooting in the UAE?
Ahmad is a legendary shooter. He has amazing knowledge of the sport. His victory at Athens brought the world’s attention to the Middle East as a potential sports powerhouse. Shaikh Saeed Al Maktoum, himself a champion shooter, has done wonders to elevate the standard of Dubai shooters and now Shaikh Juma and Saif Al Shamsi are nurturing the sport and taking UAE to greater heights. They are all wonderful friends and inspirational shooters. I wish them all the best.
