Teen Pistol Marksman Rudransh Khandelwal Aims for Paralympic Glory
Rudransh Khandelwal, a 17-year-old pistol marksman, is determined to bring glory to India at the upcoming Paris Paralympics. Despite losing his left leg in a freak accident at the age of eight, Rudransh has overcome adversity to become the world No. 1 in 50m pistol (SH1).
To ensure his success, Rudransh leaves nothing to chance. He carries a spare pistol and a tool-kit for his prosthetic leg, anticipating any potential malfunctions or setbacks. This meticulous preparation stems from witnessing ace shooter Manu Bhaker’s pistol malfunction during the Tokyo Olympics.
“I prepare myself for every eventuality in competition, including a delayed match, a shot getting canceled, or any other eventuality,” said Rudransh. “So, if at all an adverse situation arises, I will be ready to handle it.”
Another lesson Rudransh learned was the importance of being prepared for prosthetic leg issues. Just 15 minutes before a domestic competition, his prosthetic leg broke. “Now I keep a tool-kit to quickly repair it,” he said.
Rudransh’s journey to the top has been marked by perseverance and support. After his accident, his mother sought ways to prevent him from falling into depression. She introduced him to shooting, and with the guidance of his coach, Sumit Rathi, Rudransh gradually increased his training time from 2-3 hours to 7-8 hours.
Despite initial setbacks, Rudransh’s determination paid off. In 2022, he switched to 50m pistol and achieved remarkable success. He won four gold medals with three world records at his second World Cup, followed by a Paralympic Games quota at the World Championship and two silver medals at the Asian Para Games.
As he prepares for the Paralympics, Rudransh remains confident in his abilities. “There is no pressure on me as I have full confidence in the process and I know that I will do our best,” he said.
