Jitu Rai to train in Rio ahead of Olympics

MARIBOR - JUNE 19: (L-R) Silver medalist Pablo CARRERA of Spain, Gold medalist Jitu RAI of India 

and Bronze medalist Anton GOURIANOV of the Russian Federation pose with their medals after

the 10m Air Pistol Men Finals at the Shooting Center Gaj, Pragersko during Day 5 of the

 ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol on June 19, 2014 in Maribor, Slovenia. (Photo by Marco Dalla Dea)

MUMBAI: Ace pistol shooter Jitu Rai enjoyed a phenomenal run in 2014, winning seven medals across major competitions, including a silver at the ISSF World Championships in Granada (Spain), a gold and two silvers at the Maribor and Munich World Cups, gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and a gold and bronze at the Asian Games in Incheon.

What's more, he has also earned India their first quota for the 2016 Rio Olympics. And with about 18 months to go for the mega event, whatever he does from now will be undertaken with an eye on the Brazilian city.

While Jitu goes about his daily preparations, he will be backed whole-heartedly by the Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ), the organization which supports most of India's elite sportspersons, in their quest for Olympic glory.

The OGQ plans to take Rai along with most of their other athletes like boxer Sarita Devi to Rio in August so that they can get a feel of the conditions they will encounter there next year.

OGQ has also enlisted the services of their prominent board members like Viswanathan Anand and Geet Sethi who will speak to these athletes over the months about their experience at the highest level of their respective disciplines, and how to cope with the numerous challenges that lie ahead.

In fact, they had a brief session with Sarita and Jitu on Tuesday itself.

"The only thing we can offer is our experience," said Sethi, the nine-time world billiards champion.

Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl
Source: The Times of India   -   http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/