A young shooter from the small town of Palsana in Rajasthan's Sikar district has once again shown that talent paired with hard work knows no limits. Deepender Singh Shekhawat has claimed the gold medal at the 24th Rajasthan State Rifle Shooting Championship, making the entire state proud. The contest was held at the Jagatpura Shooting Range in the capital Jaipur, where top marksmen from across the state went head to head.
Deepender competed in the 50 metre rifle three position senior category. In this event he notched up a total of 580 out of 600 points, and that commanding score was enough to secure him the gold. Through the competition he kept landing precise shots and put his experience to full use.
Standing Out Among Dozens of Shooters
According to Deepender, dozens of shooters took to the range in this championship, and every round saw a tight, closely fought battle. But his concentration, technical command and years of experience kept him a step ahead of the rest. His outstanding performance drew everyone's attention throughout the competition.
The Dream of a Retired Air Force Father
Deepender's father, Rajendra Singh Shekhawat, is retired from the Air Force. He said his son has been active in shooting for a long time and keeps sharpening his game. The family has stood by Deepender at every turn and encouraged him to push ahead in sports. His father said Deepender had a passion for shooting since childhood, and today that very passion is earning him a distinct identity across the state and the country. He added that his son is extremely serious about his goal and spends most of his day in practice. The family is confident that Deepender will achieve success on even bigger stages in the days to come.
A Journey That Spans the Globe
At 22, Deepender already has a fascinating sporting career behind him. He has represented India not just at the national level but on the international stage too. At the Junior World Cup held in Delhi, he won a silver medal for India and brought honour to the country. In 2025 he competed at the Asian Shooting Championship held in Kazakhstan. He played his first international event at just 21 years of age. At present he is preparing at the Jagatpura Shooting Range in Jaipur.
A Pile of Medals
Across various national-level competitions, Deepender has so far won more than 30 medals, including 10 to 15 golds. At the state level too, his tally stands at over 35 medals. Given his consistent and impressive achievements, he has also been selected for the prestigious Khelo India scheme. Notably, beyond shooting, Deepender has been a national-level player in swimming as well, picking up several big achievements and state-level records in that sport too.
