Transiting from anonymous to well-known, shooter Jitu Rai is "very hopeful" of a podium finish in the upcoming Commonwealth Games, the confidence emanating from the historic back-to-back medals, including a gold, he had shot in the ISSF World Cup recently.
The double in Maribor, Slovenia earlier this month -- a first in the history of Indian shooting in World Cup, was preceded by a silver in the ISSF World Cup in Munich.
"This performance will help me in the long run definitely, but as of now, I am pretty confident of winning a medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow," Jitu told PTI today.
Impressed with his recent performances, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) today rewarded the 27-year-old pistol shooter with a cash award of Rs 5 lakh.
The Lucknow-born Rai, who is based in the Army Marksman Unit in Mhow, will be competing in the free pistol event in CWG.
He had won a silver in air pistol in Munich before winning another in Maribor to go with his gold medal in the same event.
Rai said India's pistol coach Pavel Smirnov played a big role in his transformation from a shooter who was once sent back from the Mhow trials after a bad performance.
"Pavel sir has helped me a lot, especially with my technique, he is very good at that. Even the army coach was of help, and so were all the national coaches," he said.
Rai's story has been one of a struggle, with the shooter losing his father way back in 2006.
"My mother has worked a lot ever since. She is a farmer and does her best to make ends meet so that we don't suffer," Rai, who has got a younger as well as one elder brother, said.
"Everything is going good now," an optimist Rai, who is being looked after by non-profit organisation Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ), added.
