In this deeply personal and inspiring video, Rajeshwari Kumari, one of India's top trap shooters and a proud Olympian, opens up about her remarkable journey from childhood dreams to the world’s biggest sporting stage: the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Born into a family rooted in sporting excellence, Rajeshwari grew up watching her father, Randhir Singh, an Asian Games gold medallist and Olympian himself. But making her mark in a sport traditionally dominated by men wasn’t easy. She speaks candidly about how, when she started training, there were only a handful of women in the field, a stark contrast to today, where she sees hundreds of women shooters breaking barriers and rewriting the narrative.
With over 12 years of disciplined, intense training, Rajeshwari reflects on the mental and physical rigor required to reach the top. She shares how qualifying for the Olympics was a dream she chased relentlessly and how surreal it was to finally see the iconic Olympic rings in person.
One of the most moving moments in the video is Rajeshwari recalling her silver medal win at the 2023 Asian Games, where she received the medal from none other than her father. For her, it was more than a medal- it was a full-circle moment that mirrored an old family photograph of her father receiving his medal from his father. That powerful moment, years in the making, became a living memory of a family legacy continuing into a new generation.
Rajeshwari also opens up about her mental journey as an athlete- the challenges of pressure, focus, and performance. She candidly shares how she wished she had discovered the power of meditation earlier in her life. “Your mind can either be your best friend or your worst enemy,” she says, encouraging young athletes to start mental conditioning early.
The role of the Reliance Foundation in supporting her path to the Olympics also features prominently. Their timely intervention and structured backing, she says, helped ease the challenges of high-level sport and enabled her to stay focused on her training and goals.
Whether you’re an aspiring athlete, a young woman breaking into male-dominated spaces, or simply someone who believes in the power of persistence and passion- Rajeshwari Kumari’s story will move you. It’s a testament to discipline, legacy, and self-belief.