The Indian shooting contingent was excellent at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games, where they managed to garner 16 medals that included 7 gold, 4 silver and 5 bronze medals. However, in what would come as a nightmarish news for the Indian shooters and shooting fans in general, shooting would in all probability be a part of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. And Rai, who won the gold medal in Men's 10m Air Pistol, wasn't pleased with that decision. He felt it would have an adverse effect on young Indian shooters.
"We win lot of medals in shooting (at the CWGs). Look at the kids who are doing so well and they will only do better as they go along. So it saddens me that shooting won't be a part of the 2022 Commonwealth Games. It will affect young medal prospects of our country," Jitu Rai told PTI, as reported by Scroll.
However, Rai has also been of the knowledge that except the organizers, nobody could do anything but still has hopes that shooting would become a part of the 2022 Games.
"But it is not in our hands. We can only shoot and that is what we are doing. Whether to include the sport or not, is in the hands of government (organisers). But I am still hopeful that it would be included," he said.
National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) had asked India to boycott the entire 2022 Commonwealth Games (Birmingham) if shooting wasn't included, and Rai also acknowledged the same.
"If NRAI has said, then it is right. I agree with them. If they are removing one sport, then boycott the Games completely because we are doing so well in this sport. We were winning so many medals in shooting. I support the NRAI and government," the 31-year-old said.
Jitu, who created a Commonwealth Games record score of 235.1 in the men's 10m air pistol, had a disappointing outing the Rio Olympics in 2016. And it has now been looking highly unlikely that he would salvage his Rio Olympics disappointment anytime soon.
"When you get result for your hardwork, that feeling is priceless. So I am very happy. I know it will never replace the pain of the Rio Olympics disappointment and I don't even think about it anymore but it does changes me up to do well in future. In a sportsman's life, there are good times as well as bad times. Perhaps, it was a bad phase of my life and maybe it was not in my luck that I didn't get a medal at the Olympics. But after that, I have won medals consistently before and after Rio," he added.
Jitu Rai's current goal has been to do well in the World Cup but he also has his sights set on the World Championship and the Asian Games which are later this year.