Rahi Jeevan Sarnobat, a formidable presence in Indian shooting, has noted that Indian marksmen are increasingly dominating the international scene. Hailing from Kolhapur, Maharashtra, Sarnobat first made her mark in 2008 when she became the first Indian to win gold in the 25m pistol event at the Commonwealth Games held in Pune.
During a recent discussion, Sarnobat's approach to the Tokyo Olympics revealed a deep sense of athletic discipline. Her journey toward the 2020 Games has been one of intense focus since 2017, a drive sparked by the achievements of World Champion rifle shooter Tejaswini Sawant.
Since 2017, she has been honing her skills for the Tokyo Olympics under the guidance of Munkhbayar Dorjsuren, a coach of Mongolian-German descent. This rigorous training led to a gold medal victory for India in the 25m pistol event at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games. Later, at the 2019 National Championship organized by the NRAI, she earned her Olympic spot by scoring 589 points.
In a personal conversation, Sarnobat described 2018 as a year of technical refinement and 2019 as the year she applied those lessons in competition. Regardless of life's unpredictable turns or the strict training regimens implemented by the NRAI, she remained unfazed and kept her sights locked on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Looking back, Sarnobat felt her preparations for the 2012 London Games were too rushed, and a unfortunate injury ultimately cost her a spot in the 2016 Rio Olympics. During a recent four-way event, she emphasized that the 2020 Olympics had been her sole focus since 2017. She also noted that since 2019, the world has started paying closer attention to Indian shooters because they are now competing at the same high level as powerhouses like China, Japan, and South Korea.
Sarnobat is currently training alongside her peers at the Inspire Institute of Sports in Toranagallu, Karnataka. Discussing the new wave of talent, she observed that while she relied heavily on senior mentors as a junior, today's young shooters possess a much higher level of technical confidence. She concluded by noting that the ultimate goal is for the nation to win gold; if one person doesn't achieve it, another will, so athletes should avoid placing unnecessary pressure on themselves.