Sanjeev now hunts for a job

Palembang, Aug. 21: Taking in his stride the challenges life had thrown at him, Sanjeev Rajput says the ability to cut off from his personal battles while shooting has helped him land two major medals in last six months.

Life has not been the same for Rajput ever since a fellow shooter filed a rape case against him in December 2016, a charge he denies. Shooting is mainly a mental sport and the court case affected him immensely in the initial stages but not anymore.

“The personal issues are still going on but I can focus on myself, bring down my entire concentration to shooting. I was not able to do that earlier but now I am able to cut off myself from everything when I am shooting. I believe if you are truthful, you will keep moving ahead,” Rajput said.

And indeed, he is moving ahead at 37. The former Navy man captured his maiden Commonwealth Games gold at Gold Coast in April and on Tuesday, he got his hands on his maiden individual Asian Games medal, a silver.

All this he has been able to do despite not having a job for more than 12 months. Having retired from Navy after 19 years of service, Rajput joined SAI but was sacked last year. He has hopes from Haryana government but for now, his only regular source of income is the monthly pension he gets from the Navy.

“I am quite hopeful that I would be offered something after today. Lets see what happens,” said the god-fearing marksman.

“Before the final I was thinking the kids who are half my age are doing so well and If I didn’t win, toh bacche kya bolenge (what would kids say),” said Rajput on a lighter note, referring to 16-year-old Saurabh Chaudhary. — PTI