Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore stands out as one of India’s distinguished personalities who have achieved notable success across diverse fields. A retired senior officer of the Indian Army, Rathore has also made a mark in sports and politics.
Born on 29 January 1970 in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, Rathore graduated from the 77th course of the National Defence Academy (NDA). Following NDA, he attended the Indian Military Academy where he was honoured with the Sword of Honour as the best all-round gentleman cadet. Commissioned on 15 December 1990 into the 64th Cavalry, he was later transferred to the 9 Grenadiers on 28 February 1992. Rathore rose through the ranks, becoming Lieutenant on 15 December 1992, Captain in 1995, Major in 2000, Lieutenant Colonel in 2004, and Colonel in 2009. He also participated in the Kargil War.
Alongside his military career, Rathore’s passion for shooting brought him international acclaim. He won the gold medal in the double trap event at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, setting a new Games record by hitting 192 out of 200 targets, a record that still stands. He also secured the team gold with Morad Ali Khan. Rathore continued his winning streak with a gold medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and multiple medals in World Championships, World Cups, Asian Championships, and Asian Games, accumulating a total of 13 international medals.
The year 2004 was a landmark in Rathore’s sporting career when he won the silver medal in the double trap event at the Athens Olympics. This was the first individual Olympic shooting medal for India. He further added a bronze medal at the 2006 World Championships in Spain and a silver medal at the 2003 World Championships in Sydney, ending a nearly 40-year medal drought for India in shooting at this level. Between 2002 and 2006, Rathore won 25 international medals in double trap events. In 2011, he won gold at the Asian Clay Target Championship in Kuala Lumpur, equalling the world record with a score of 194.
After retiring from the Indian Army and competitive shooting in 2013, Rathore ventured into politics. He served as a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha from 2014 to 2023 and held positions as Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting as well as Sports. Since 2023, he has been active in Rajasthan state politics as a cabinet minister.
Rathore’s contributions have been recognised with prestigious awards including the Arjuna Award in 2004, the Padma Shri in 2005, and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2005.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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