OCA President Randhir Optimistic About Indian Shooting Future After Daughter’s Asian Games Medal
The President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), Randhir Singh, expressed his joy and optimism following his daughter Rajeshwari Kumari’s silver medal win in the women’s trap event at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Randhir Singh, a five-time shooting Olympian himself, hailed his daughter’s achievement as a significant moment in his life, emphasizing how he had looked forward to her participation in the games.
Randhir Singh also spoke optimistically about the future of Indian shooting, especially leading up to the 2024 Olympics in Paris. He praised the National Rifle Association of India’s performance, with India achieving their target of winning at least 20 medals in shooting at the Asian Games. He expressed confidence that more medals were on the way and commended the exceptional performance across various shooting disciplines.
Rajeshwari Kumari, despite battling illness with a fever in the days leading up to the medal match, contributed to India’s remarkable performance. She credited her motivation to secure a team medal and the support of her coach and physiotherapist for her success.
Interestingly, Rajeshwari admitted feeling more nervous when her mother watched her compete, as she was more accustomed to her father being in the audience. Rajeshwari had been preparing for the Paris Olympics for two years.
Randhir Singh’s advice to his daughter was simple yet profound: “Put your head down and enjoy shooting. If you enjoy something, do it.”
India’s silver medal in shooting, with a total of 337 points, added to their historic performance at the Asian Games, where they secured their best-ever tally of 21 medals in the sport. China claimed the gold medal with a world-record-breaking total of 357 points, while Kazakhstan earned the bronze with 336 points. India’s overall medal count at the Asian Games stood at 41, with 11 gold, 16 silver, and 14 bronze medals.
Re-reported from the article originally published in The ANI English