Shooting is a lesser renowned sport in India. It is mainly due to the cost that the sport involves that many Indians do not take up the sport. Also, the facilities that are required including the equipment and the shooting range, it is available in only the urban townships. The best of the shooters for India is in the Indian army. It is because only in such institutes the access to the facilities is easier. The sport however is one of the best. It requires concentration and stability. Here is a look at the top 5 Indian male shooters: –
5) Jitu Rai: –
Subedar Major Jitu Rai is a top-notch Indian shooter. Born on 26th August 1987, the 34-year-old is a Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award winner. He received this honor in the year 2016 at the hands of then-President Pranab Mukherjee. Jitu has always been in the shooting circuit but he majorly captured the people’s eye when he represented India in the shooting event in 2016. Jitu Rai was born in Nepal and spent the initial years of his life here. He moved to India and joined the Indian army in the year 2006. Rai is a centralized citizen of India. He first represented the state of Uttar Pradesh in the national games.
Jitu Rai’s achievements are as follows: –
- Gold in 2017 New Delhi Shooting World Cup in 10m air pistol mixed event.
- Gold in 2014 Maribor Shooting World Cup in 10m air pistol men’s
- Gold in 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 50m air pistol
- Gold in 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 10m air pistol.
- Gold in 2014 Incheon Asian Games in 50m air pistol.
4) Vijay Kumar: –
Vijay Kumar Sharma is an honorary captain in the Indian Army. Born on 19th August 1985, this 36-year-old was made for glory. Coming from the Hamirpur district in Himachal Pradesh State, he is a retired Subedar Major from the Army. Vijay’s parent was an army officer and this justifies his nationalist genes. Kumar joined the army in the year 2001 as a sepoy. He has been awarded multiple government honors. These include the Padma Shri, the Khel Ratna, the Sena Medal, and Arjuna Award. The sport helped Vijay gain a lot of name and money as well. He is majorly known for consistently shooting well in a long game of several sets. He can hold his posture.
Achievements of Vijay Kumar are as follows: –
COMMONWEALTH GAMES
- Gold in 2006, Melbourne: 25 m rapid fire pistol
- Gold in 2006, Melbourne: 25 m rapid fire pistol
- Gold in 2010, New Delhi: 25 m rapid fire pistol
- Gold in 2010, New Delhi: 25 m rapid fire pistol
- Gold in 2010, New Delhi: 25 m rapid fire pistol
- Silver in 2010, New Delhi: 25 m rapid fire pistol
ISSF WORLD SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Silver in 2009, Beijing: 25 m rapid fire pistol
- Silver in 2011, Fort Benning: 25 m rapid fire pistol
ASIAN GAMES
- Silver in 2014, Incheon: 25 m Centrefire pistol
- Bronze in 2006, Doha: 25 m rapid fire pistol
- Bronze in 2010, Guangzhou: 25 m Centrefire pistol
3) Gagan Narang: –
Gagan Narang had to be on the list of the top shooters. Gagan has a Punjabi background but was born in Chennai on 6th May 1983. The 38-year-old burst on the scene with a medal at the 2012 London Olympics. He won a bronze medal in the 10m Air Rifle event. Narang is one of the shooters that have had a taste of Olympic glory. Gagan has attained a Bachelor’s of Computer Applications Degree but he had a different calling. When he was very young, about the age of 2, his father noticed that Gagan was very easily shooting balloons with a toy pistol. Narang’s father further helped him learn the sport by practicing in his backyard. What sets Gagan Narang apart is his patience and ability to pull the game back.
Gagan Narang Achievements: –
- Gold in 2006, Australia in 10m air rifle individual
- Gold in 2006, Australia in 10m air rifle pairs
- Gold in 2006, Australia in 50m rifle 3 positions individual
- Gold in 2006, Australia in 50m air rifle positions pairs
- Gold in 2010, Delhi, India in 10m air rifle individual
- Gold in 2010, Delhi, India in 10m air rifle pairs
- Gold in 2010, Delhi, India in 50m rifle 3 positions individual
- Gold in 2010, Delhi, India in 50m rifle 3 positions pairs
- Silver in 2014, Scotland in 50m rifle prone
- Bronze in 2014, Scotland in 50m rifle 3 positions
2) Rajvardhan Singh Rathore: –
Rajvardhan Sing Rathore is a Colonel position in the Indian Army. He currently is a minister in Rajasthan and previously has been the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs till 2019. Rajvardhan came in front after getting the silver medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics in the skeet event. He mostly wasn’t in the sporting circuit and hasn’t featured in many events. Although he is supremely talented and has a good set of skills. His judgment skill is the best of the lot. He can predict the presence of a traveling body. He has a great ability of concentration and patience.
1) Abhinav Bindra: –
Abhinav Bindra is undoubtedly India’s greatest shooter. Abhinav comes from a well-to-do family and his family has supported his game since the very beginning. Bindra is also the first Individual Gold Medalist from India in the Summer Olympics. He won the Gold Medal in the 10m Air Pistol in the 2008 Olympic Games in Bejing. He was born in the Zikripur district of Punjab. The 39-year-old is one of the best and has all the attributes to make him a complete shooter.
Abhinav Bindra Achievements: –
- 2000 – Arjuna award.
- 2001 – Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (India’s highest sports award).
- 2009 – Padma Bhushan.
- 2011 – Honorary Lieutenant Colonel by Indian Territorial Army
- Gold in 2006 Zagreb World Championships 10m Air Rifle.
- Gold in 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games 10m Air Rifle.
- Gold in 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games 10m Air Rifle.
- Gold in 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games 10m Air Rifle.
- Gold in 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games 10m Air Rifle.