India has good future in shooting, says Rathore

Olympic silver medallist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said that India's marksmen were set to perform better in future events.

Olympic silver medallist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said on Sunday that India was fast emerging as a force in shooting and the country's marksmen were set to perform even better in future.

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"After the last Commonwealth Games where Indian shooters gave jitters to even Australia, we have started emerging as a force in shooting and the performance will surely improve in the future," Rathore, whose medal in Athens came in double trap event, said.

He was speaking to reporters after being felicitated by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and chief of the Sahara Group, Subrato Roy.

The army major said he had always aspired for a gold medal and had worked hard towards winning it but eventually had to settle for silver.

"I had never thought of any other medal but the gold and had often wondered during training sessions if I had set my goal a little too high... But stuck to a tough training regimen to keep improving my performance."

Rathore said he was a little nervous before the start of the competition and with the strong winds blowing across the range on that day, which created problems for all, "I lost concentration and miss some targets."

"For a moment I thought my Olympic medal pursuit is over but I fought back with full determination," he said.

Rathore said he was confident of the country putting up a better showing in 2008 Beijing Olympics.