Rathore's son Manavaditya eyeing India senior team selection

The thought that he is the son of a champion shooter would weigh him down initially, also make him "conscious". But then, there was a change in perspective, and Manavaditya Singh Rathore started reaping the rewards.

Eight years since befriending guns, on the back of an impressive resume and inputs from his Olympic silver-medallist father Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, he is eyeing selection in the Indian senior team.

The 20-year-old won three gold medals in two days at the recently-concluded 63rd National Shotgun Shooting Championship here.

After showing promise in junior tournaments, Manavaditya is seeking to perform in next month's trials and stake a claim for selection in the senior team, which is teaming with an array of dazzling talent.

"I am delighted to have finished my last nationals in junior with this kind of performance," he told PTI.

"Like any athlete my long-term goal is participate in the Olympics and win a medal there. But my immediate goal is to attend to made the Indian senior team," the trap shooter added.

Apart from his doctor mother, Manavaditya's father has been one of his biggest pillars of strength.

Asked if being the son of a father who has won internationals accolades in the sport helped, he said, "Initially, whenever I would take aim at tournaments, it would make me conscious. I used to feel a lot of things.

"But then I thought about it long and realised that I can benefit so much from him. Since my father has been a sportsman himself, he understands it better. Yes, he did often give me tips and shared his skills with me. That surely helped.

"I did try to build upon the experience and skills of my father and it really helped."
"A lot of times we go to the range together and shoot, and it also doubles up as picnic, so it's nice."