New Delhi, Oct 17 Fresh from helping India win its first-ever rifle team medal at the World Shooting Para Sport World Championships in Changwon, para-shooter Rakesh Nidagundi is targeting gold at his debut Para Asian Games in Japan.
“As an athlete, I am going to the Asian Games with 100 per cent medal expectations. My target is gold,” Nidagundi told PTI Videos.
“I have learned a lot from my three international competitions. I have worked on the mistakes I made earlier and am shooting at my best in training,” he added.
Nidagundi, who began his shooting journey in 2020 and started competing in 2021, said financial difficulties had made his early years in the sport particularly challenging.
“I faced a lot of financial challenges. I was unemployed and used to stay at home. I come from a middle-class family, and shooting is a very expensive sport. You have to spend a lot of money on travelling, equipment, weapons and coaching. I struggled a lot until 2024,” he said.
Nidagundi joined the Vijayi Bharat Foundation towards the end of 2025, allowing him to focus more on his sport.
“After joining the foundation, I have received a lot of support. I feel 100 per cent relaxed and get the opportunity to compete with a free mind,” he said.
Reflecting on his World Championships performance, Nidagundi described the medal as a significant milestone in his international career.
“It was my third international competition, and I wanted to overcome my fear. It was my first international medal, and it created history,” he said.
(PTI News)
