Rudrankksh —Indian shooting’s ‘chosen one’

Three years ago, Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil was being spoken of, in hushed but awed tone, as a possible successor to Abhinav Bindra.

The then 19-year-old’s performances and consistency had evoked admiration and hope in the shooting fraternity. But it all came crashing when he stumbled, finishing fourth in 10m air rifle at the 2023 Asian Games and failing to make the cut for the Paris Olympics — a quota he had held on to for two years after becoming the first Indian shooter to earn one. It wasn’t his skill that let him down; it was the mind. Still only 22, Rudrankksh is now a lot more in control — of his mind, emotions, thoughts. That control saw him go one better on his disappointing Hangzhou outing, winning a bronze medal in 10m air rifle in Aichi-Na goya.