Rahi aims at CYG medal

By SUNDARI IYER

Mumbai

The countdown has begun for the Pune Commonwealth Youth Games. Barely four days before the mega-event kicks off, 17-year-old Rahi Sarnobat from Kolhapur is as nervous as any other.

The youngster’s rise on the shooting circuit has been meteoric. Watching her idol Tejaswani Sawant win a gold medal in the women’s 10m air rifle event at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne inspired this first year BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) student to take up the sport.

What started off as a vacation sport is now a passion for Rahi, who, as any other player, wants to be in the Indian Olympic contingent some day.

But she’s in no hurry, as she feels it is better to take it one step at a time.

"The ultimate aim is the Olympics for anybody. But I am not rushing towards it. I feel that I have not reached that level yet. There are better shooters. When I start firing at that level — maybe 580 regularly — I can confidently say that I am ready for the Olympics," says Sarnobat.

About her CYG medal hopes, she is confident that India have chances of winning a medal in the shooting events.

"As this is a youth games, for many players it will be their first international event. But for the Indian team, all of us have had good international exposure. So I am positive that we can get some medals from shooting." Rahi will participate in the 25m-pistol category on October 13.

Asked what the turning point for her was, she pinpoints the Super Cup where she won the 10m air pistol category in Germany, back in April this year.

Scoring a career-best 571/600 during the Indore national trials and coming first among experienced shooters also gave her confidence.

"I have learnt one thing from Pandit sir at MRA (Maharashtra Rifle Association) — that it is important to be qualitative than quantitative," says the upcoming shooter who believes more in numerology than god and feels that number three and its multiples and Tuesday are lucky for her.