Waiting to hit the target

Their train to Ahmedabad is at 9 pm but Rajesh Rajput and his two sons Jai and Hardik are at the railway station three hours early. Not beca...

Their train to Ahmedabad is at 9 pm but Rajesh Rajput and his two sons Jai and Hardik are at the railway station three hours early. Not because of a fetish for punctuality; living in a subsidised hotel means they have to check out early or pay full rate.

When you8217;re raising two prospective shooters, you learn to count every penny. The high cost is known to turn off talent early on.

Consider the cost Rajput Sr has to factor in:
8226; Weapon: Rs 60,000 to lakhs
8226; Gear: Rs 40,000
8226; Shoes: Rs 10,000
8226; Ammunition cost: 50 paise to Rs 50 per round, depending on event

So far, he says he8217;s spent about Rs 4 lakh 8212; a substantial part of his life8217;s savings 8212; to make his sons country8217;s top shooters. 8216;8216;I had an obsessive desire to make my children national champions but I think this was an expensive sport that I picked,8217;8217; he says.

For the last eight years the three travel to about five national events across the country with the hope of hitting big time. Support has been non-existent. Even the entry fees for the national meet 8212; where they represent Gujarat 8212; come from their meagre budget. Jai and Hardik, who started competing at national meets when they were 11 and 13, have won about 17 national medals at different levels but still aren8217;t Top 25 regulars.

The two share a gun but it is modified to suit the shooter when the swap takes place. Their father feel that at times this affects their precision and a chance at becoming a Renowned Shooter. Jai did make it to top 25 two year back but Rajesh 8212; having just paid Rs 60,000 for Hardik8217;s weapon 8212; wasn8217;t willing to spend more.

Today finances are more stable, Rajesh has the means to buy another gun 8212; but neither son is in the top 25. Hardik now works as a sales executive, his taxing door-to-door day makes it tough for him to find time for practice. Younger brother Jai spends more time with books than guns, his target an IT engineering degree course in Gandhinagar, an hour away from his house in Ahmedabad.

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It8217;s no surprise, given this, that the Nationals didn8217;t go too well. So how long will the Rajputs continue? 8216;8216;When my sons have a decent job where they can spare more time to shooting we will be back with vengeance. Right now we want to stick around, be visible,8217;8217; Rajesh says.

With this, the medalless trio and their rifle return to their patient wait on the platform. For the train, for a break, for that shot at glory. For one father8217;s obsession with his sons8217; success to finally pay off.

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More