Mumbai: On a comeback trail after a long hiatus due to an injury leading to poor form, two-time Commonwealth Games champion pistol shooter Rahi Sarnobat is targeting a podium finish at the Asian Games commencing later this month.
“The Asian Games are to commence in just 15 days and later there are the World Championships (in Korea). Even if they (the Asiad) are challenging for me, my preparation is very good,” 27-year-old Kolhapuri girl told this agency.
“Yes definitely, there is no doubt about it,” Rahi quipped on being asked if she was targeting a podium finish in the Asiad commencing August 18 in the Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Palembang.
Competition will be tough at the Asiad. But with the current form of our shooters, the entire Indian team are hopeful of a good performance
Rahi Sarnobat
Rahi’s stars were in ascendancy after she clinched back-to-back gold at the 2010 Delhi and 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games in the 25 metre pistol event. But fate willed otherwise as the markswoman, who trains in Pune, was forced to take a nearly year-long break from the range due to an elbow injury and her form dipped subsequently.
According to Rahi, after the Games the shooters will directly proceed to the World Championships, which she felt were as ‘important and tough’ as the Olympics, as they take place once in four years.