Rathore returns to Nationals

A little over three months after creating history at the Athens Olympic Games by winning a silver medal, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore will shoot at the National Championships at the Karni Singh Shooting Ranges this week. It will be his first meet since the Olympics.

Rathore, 34, became India's highest-ever individual medallist when he finished second in Double Trap event at Athens.

"Since the Nationals are the only major meet at the domestic level, it is important all leading shooters take part in it," said Rathore.

"It is important that all top sportsmen, regardless of the sport, compete in at least major domestic competitions, because only then will interest in the sport will rise. It also gives youngsters a chance to rub shoulders with senior internationals," added Rathore.

Elaborating on the Nationals, he said, "One has to be serious about every meet one shoots in. The Nationals are a big meet for all of us. All the leading shooters will be here [Delhi] and it will be a big chance for people to take a look."

More than 200 top shooters from all over the country are expected to participate.

Rathore, who has a packed calendar over the next two years, will be the star attraction at the National championships, which open with trap and skeet events on November 24 and 25. Rathore's event, double trap, will have practice on Friday and the main competition will be on Saturday.

"It is encouraging to note that there are many more shooters than before at the National level. The best part if fresh young faces are coming up, which means there is a lot of interest in it," added Rathore.

The men's double trap will have Moraad Ali Khan and Mansher Singh (whose main event is actually trap) and besides them there could be others like Manavjit Singh, Zorawar Singh and Gaurav Sondhi. The well-known names will be joined by youngsters who have qualified for the Nationals through the pre-Nationals, the Mavlankar Meet, which was held last week.

Also taking part in the Nationals will be Member of Parliament and industrialist Naveen Jindal, who is also the National record holder in skeet.

In trap, the first day will see three rounds which will be followed by two more rounds on Thursday before the top six compete in the final.

The nationals will also be one of the selection trials for the Indian team for the Commonwealth Shooting Championships in Melbourne in March. There will be two other trials at Hyderabad from January 8 to 12 and in Delhi from January 23 to 29. The squad will be announced in the first week of February.