The 13-year-old shooter is the youngest to qualify for the Nationals
At 13, Ayush Rudraraju can well afford a smile and dream big. He has managed to set yet another ‘first’ – he is the youngest shooter to qualify for the Nationals by notching up a Zonal record score of 117\125 in the junior men’s skeet category of the sixth South Zone shotgun championship, held at the Central University Sports Authority of Telangana shooting ranges here on Friday.
For the record, Ayush is also the youngest Olympic skeet shooter in India and is coached and mentored by his father, Rajeev Kumar.
An eighth standard student of Oakridge International School, Ayush is widely tipped to be one of the best young talents in shooting, which was amply demonstrated even when he took part in the ISSF Junior World Cup last year.
“Now, I am thinking of the different level after the Zonal performance,” says the articulate Ayush, who is clearly chasing bigger goals on the shooting front.
What is most impressive about this young talent is that he won the gold in the junior men’s skeet category (individual), team event and a silver in the senior men’s skeet category too.
With shooters from six southern States taking part, the fact that Ayush held his own to make another impact on the sport, has made many critics at the range take note of his prodigious talent.
“More importantly, I have qualified for the 58 Nationals to be held in Patiala from November 14 and 27. This gives me a real feel of what it means to be in the big league,” says a delighted Ayush after today’s achievement.
Not surprisingly, this young shooter is already aiming for a slot in the Indian team. He is looking forward to the qualification events for the Junior World Cup, the Asian meets which start next January.
“Yes, I am aware of the huge task ahead. But at the same time, I am pretty pleased with the way things are going. I love this sport and want to make it big,” he says.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V.V.Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – November 02nd, 2014