Every child knows that play is nobler than work. The first Olympic Medalist in shooting, Sri Rajyavardhan Singh Rathod, won Silver medal for the country in 2004 (Athens) and gave hopes that the future of Olympic medal lies in shooting sport, Abhinav Bindra 2008 (Beijing), Gagan Narang, Vijay Kumar (both 2012 Olympic medalist) have proved it.
Rakshit Shastry, born in 1991 on National Sports day hails from “Cultural Capital of Karnataka, Mysuru”. He is currently working at Vyoda Pvt Ltd (Sister Concern of N Ranga Rao & Sons) in Mysuru. Rakshit is a Mechanical Engineer has completed B.E, MTech (PDM) and MBA (HRM).
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He is being trained under the watchful guidance of Sri Suresh MS, Sri Suresh MS is an Ex-Army personal. Himself being a multi medalist in the rarest combination of rapid and slow shooting. He has won over 35 National medals and had held national record, federation cup record in the past.
He is the founder & coach of Mysore District Rifle Association (MDRA) which was started in Mysuru on 15th of August 2013. He has previously trained several students from the belt force and civilian sports persons who have won medals for the country, namely Vijay Kumar, Pemba Tamang, Gurpal Singh and many others.
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Rakshit picked up first lesson of firing rifle in 2015 after being encouraged by his friend Vipul, who were also part of Karnataka State Swimming team in their school days. In a short span of 14 days training Rakshit could better his ability to shoot accurate scores and won Silver medal in State shooting championship in open sight air rifle.
In due course of time, getting inspired by the heroics of his coach in 1991 Nationals where Sri Suresh MS created National record in Pistol, Rakshit picked up love for pistol shooting. He gave trials for 7th South Zone Shooting Championship and cleared the trials. First taste of medal outside state was in 2015 September when Karnataka “A” team won Team Gold at 7th South Zone shooting championship. The medal and performance hunt has got better and better since then.
Till date Rakshit has won over 50 medals right from State to National level. He finished 3rd at 26th All India GV Mavalankar Shooting Championship, Mumbai in 2016 (national level event) is being one of his best finish.
Rakshit Shastry finished 28th rank in the 62nd National Shooting Championship in civilian category and has been giving India team trials since then. He represented India CDRA team & won Team Silver in the recently conducted International Shooting Competition of Hannover (ISCH), Germany on 9th May 2019.
Rakshit is a sports person since his school days has won many medals in Karate, Swimming and Table Tennis. He was Junior National Gold medallist in KATA and Silver medallist in KUMITE. He also finished 1st in Junior 4×100 (freestyle) Medley relay in State Games.
During the journey of shooting till date there are notable people who supported him morally, monetarily and mentally. He recalls Mr Arjun Ranga who has been supporting him since day 1 of his office at Ranga Rao & Sons. “I have been supported by the organisation, my managers Mr Pranesh, Mr Harish Chandan and especially Arjun sir who motivates me to work better and perform better in sports as well”.
Mahantesh, KrishnaMurthy, Dr Ananya & friends have been his constant support till date. He also recalls his schoolmates who have encouraged & motivated him in their own way.