#indianshooting

There are kings who rule kingdoms. And then there are kings who rule the shooting range.

Today, on his birth anniversary, we bow to Maharaja Dr. Karni Singh Ji (also known as Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore in spirit and legacy).

✨ Who was he? The Maharaja of Bikaner. An Arjuna Awardee (1961). The first Indian trap shooter to compete in 4 Olympic Games.

🥇 1966 Commonwealth Games – Gold Medalist. 🔫 Nickname: The Royal Marksman 🇮🇳 Legacy: He proved that royalty wasn’t just about palaces — it was about representing your country with honour.

Dr. Karni Singh wasn’t just a shooter. He was a scholar, a politician, and a man who shook hands with John F. Kennedy.

On his birth anniversary, here’s a thought — Before the internet made heroes overnight, India had a Maharaja who made the world applaud with just a shotgun.

Countless salutations to the king who never missed his target. 🏹

The vibes are IMMACULATE for Indian sports right now! ✨

ZAROVAR SINGH SANDHU just won the BRONZE medal at the ISSF World Cup Shotgun in Athens! 🥉🇮🇳

This is HUGE! A massive shoutout to the young shooter for this incredible performance on the world stage. The future is so bright. 🔫✨

But can we also take a second to appreciate the legend in the background? The one and only Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.

Think about it:

2004 Athens: Col. Rathore wins India’s first individual Olympic silver medal. 🥈

2025 Athens: A young Indian shooter he has inspired/guided wins a World Cup medal. 🥉

This isn’t a coincidence. It’s called LEGACY.

He’s not just a former champion; he’s a mentor building the next generation of champions. From making history himself to ensuring India keeps making it.

This is a proud moment for India, and a full-circle moment for Indian shooting.

Heartfelt congratulations to Manu Bhaker for winning two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics! 🥉🥉