It is not easy being a second-generation athlete hoping to reprise old glory. Expectations and comparisons are inevitable, yet Rajeshwari ‘Ria’ Kumari, slightly short in height but tall in stature, is ready to go flat out, all guns blazing, at the Paris Olympics.
Daughter of Raja Randhir Singh, Ria, as she is fondly addressed by friends in the shooting fraternity, has been doing her own stuff in a quiet way. As she says, she is more comfortable with chatting on WhatsApp than over a call. Yet, well before the media restrictions had been slapped on shooters leading up to Paris 2024, she spoke to RevSportz on her career and how the final preparations before the Olympics are so vital.
Before leaving for her final base camp in the Czech Republic, she had taken time to be with her family in Dehradun. It’s not easy being an elite athlete and training almost non-stop. When she was part of the Indian shooting contingent which won plenty of medals at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, last year, it was just the beginning. The big deal is to win medals in Paris.
“From my side, I have prepared the best and nothing has been left to chance,” she said. “My training programme is well-designed and I am lucky I have the right support staff at every layer to back me.” Luckily for her, Randhir, her proud father, was himself a renowned trap-shooter who can still bring down those orange clay birds with delight at 78. He does not interfere too much.
The doting daughter has learnt the basics from her father, for sure, but to keep improving on technique, have the right mentor and also someone who can work on her mental toughness, Ria has the best to guide her. When she speaks of how her personal coach David Kostelecky has guided her for a few years now, she gets excited. “Dad presented him the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 when he (Kostelecky) won in trap,” said Ria.
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It is an acknowledgement that she has the best man to sharpen her skills, make her consistent and be ready for whatever may be the light and wind conditions are in Paris. Trap shooting is a sport, unlike rifle and pistol, where nature plays a big part. “Yes, we discuss and plan for all these factors, apart from technique,” said Ria. Kostelecky is expected to be in Paris as well, which will be a big boost for her. And Ria did not forget to mention how good it was for India to have a second woman trap-shooter in Paris as well, Shreyasi Singh. Shreyasi got in at the last minute but has been preparing hard.
The big part, of course, was when Ria opened up on her mentor. “I am sure you, Kannan, of all the people, will know,” said Ria in a teasing way. “Come on, I have been consulting Abhinav Bindra for years now, though we don’t talk too much about it. See, I am lucky, I have two gold medallists from 2008 Beijing helping me.”
How does it work with Abhinav, since he does not talk too much on what all he does for fellow athletes from the shooting fraternity? “I mean, for me, Abhinav has always been a guiding force,” says Ria. “I keep asking him questions and get my answers. It’s a non-stop process and I continue to pick his brains and get so many answers. Everything is not on a call, we chat and his guidance is so valuable. There are so many fine points he guides me on, including reading the right stuff to stay in the right mentality.”
Add to that a mental trainer she consults online in the United States of America, and this is a solid support system. Ria was not willing to name her mental trainer because of a confidentiality clause. “It works well online and I have the most respected and big person in the US to provide me the right support,” she said. “Shooting is a sport where technique and staying in the right frame of mind positively are important.”
It may be tempting to ask her about medal chances and so on, but that would be jumping the gun. “I have put in my best efforts and the last few days are also important,” said Ria. “To stay relaxed and shoot well in Paris is my dream.”
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