Rana’s incredible journey to the top of the shooting world

It was in May 2019 that Samrat Rana first gave notice of his talent.

- Avishek Roy

He was just 14 then but he took part in an open championships organised by the Manav Rachna Foundation in Faridabad. The first prize was a Renault Kwid and Rana, not yet eligible for a driving license, took the field by surprise -- winning gold and the car. He was a year into his training. "That win gave me belief in my potential," Rana told HT from Cairo.

His experience in the Cairo World Championships this week was no less stunning. This time, he left the world champions and Olympic medallist in his wake, by winning the 10m air pistol title. Competing in his maiden world championships and in his first senior final ever, Samrat was the proverbial dark horse who became the champion.