All guns blazing

It meant Sodhi would have to step out of the shadow of Indias most famous shotgun marksman. When Sodhi talks about missing out on the Beijing Games,there is no bitterness in his voice. It wasnt right for me to take Rajyavardhans place. I was very clear about that in my head. He was the defending silver medalist and had earned that quota place. OK the quota place is for the country,but still… I was hoping to get a wild card but that didnt work out. There was some disappointment. But you have to move on, Sodhi said.

Over the last three years,Sodhi has equalled the world record,won two gold medals at ISSF World Cups and has 13 medals at various meets. The only thing missing from his trophy wall at his Greater Kailash home is an Olympic medal.

At 30,Sodhi is Indias best bet in the double trap. Yes,better than Rathore! Sodhi,though,dismisses any comparisons between himself and Rathore.

For many of us,Rajyavardhans silver medal at Athens was a big inspiration. He was our role model.

Before Rathore came into the picture,Sodhis father played a crucial role in shaping his career. Its not that Sodhi needed much prodding before he picked up a firearm. Obsession with guns runs in the blood of the Sodhis. There was always a shotgun around. The family has changed residence from Sodhi Nagar to Ferozepur to Greater Kailash but the shotgun has always enjoyed a place of pride in the Sodhi residence.

Younger brother Birendeep is passionate about shooting down clay pigeons too. Sodhis father,Malvender Singh is rather proud of his trigger happy sons.

It is like we were born with guns in our hands. My father used to be an avid hunter when it was legal. I guess,it is something which comes naturally to us. I am happy both my sons too have a passion for shooting, Malvender said.

When Malvender asked his sons to pursue shooting as a career option,they took it as if it was their duty. The competition between the brothers soon became fierce. At the 1999 nationals in Chennai,Birendeep beat Ronjan by one shot. Father Malvender didnt want his sons to beat each other,so he advised Ronjan to switch to double trap.

Ronjan made the team the very next year, Malvender said proudly.

It was when Malvender took Ronjan to the Karni Singh shooting range that Sodhi junior fell in love with the sport. He watched some of the best in the business Manavjit Singh Sandhu,Mansher Singh and Morad Ali Khan shoot down clay pigeons with ease.

My brother and I started shooting together. But we were only shooting on-and-off. We would train just a month before the nationals and once it was done and dusted we wouldnt shoot till the next event. When I started off,camps were only for the top shooters, Sodhi said.

The steep costs the sport demands gave Sodhi second thoughts about becoming a full-time shooter. A graduate from St Stephens,he also got himself an MBA in marketing and international finance from Amity.

I was confused. A practice session can set you back by Rs 6,000. Unless,you win an Olympic medal there is little support from ministry or from sponsors. My parents encouraged me to pursue a career in shooting, Sodhi said.

Malvender explains why shooting can leave one with a hole in the pocket.

You need a minimum of Rs 8 lakh at least to practice full-time. When Ronjan started off shooting it was difficult because one had to be among the top-eight in the country to import duty-free ammunition, Malvender said.

Missing out on headlines

For all his achievements,ironically Sodhi feels like he has often missed out on the headlines. When I won my first medal (bronze) at the ISSF World Cup in Santo Domingo it coincided with the cricket World Cup. When I won gold in Lonato,the football World Cup was on. I am not complaining. Most of the time,I am only thinking of how I am shooting.

Sodhi though always speaks his mind when shooters have got a raw deal. During the trials,early this year,most of the shotgun shooters,including Sodhi walked out after it was discovered that the clay-pigeon machine was faulty.

As a result he was out of the team for both the Commonwealth Shooting Championships and the ISSF World Cup in Acapulco,Mexico. He shot in Acapulco as a Minimum Qualifying Score (MQS) shooter but that also meant that he couldnt be in contention for a medal no matter how well he shot. In Mexico,Sodhi equalled the world record score of 147 and answered his critics.

How I felt after shooting 147 in Acapulco… even I cant tell you how I felt, Sodhi,who has made peace with the authorities now,said.

With the Commonwealth Games approaching,Sodhi wants to be at his best. He has taken a short break now after participating in the ISSF World Championship in Munich. He will then head to Izmir in Turkey for the World Cup finals. His two-year-old son Suryaveer,occupies his attention now.

I am away shooting at least six months a year. It is tough to stay away from the family for too long. Once a year I go to Ferozepur with my family… just to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, he said.

Sodhi thinks a lot about the 2012 London Olympics. This time he wants to ensure that the Olympic quota place is his. The London dream is on. Hopefully I will not leave it too late this time.

Khan says his protege is mentally stronger now

If Ronjan Singh Sodhi is looking leaner these days,it has something to do with the constant nagging on the part of Morad Ali Khan. Four years ago,Sodhi used to weigh close to 90 kilograms. Now,he is 16 kilograms lighter. Khan has been Sodhis mentor for over a decade.

One of the earliest memories Khan has of Sodhi is of a gangly youngster watching him shoot during the Senior Nationals in Chennai in the late 90s. I had won with a huge score. This little fellow used to be sitting there,watching us shoot. I got to know that he had won the junior trap event, Khan said.

Soon the two became team mates. Khan would guide Sodhi with regard to technique.

A decade on,they share a warm relationship. Im old now. I havent really shot anything for sometime now, Khan,who became a government nominee in the National Rifle Association of India,said.

Sodhis confidence wasnt sky-high in the earlier days. Khan knew that in shooting,where the margin of error is not more than a fraction,confidence was everything.

I instilled a sense of self belief in him. A shooter can be technically sound. But unless you have self belief you wont be able to triumph when the competition is stiff. I believe Sodhi is mentally much stronger now, Khan said.