Lt Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore was one of the few double trap shooters that India produced. Nonetheless, he was one of the finest in the sport which he proved by winning a silver medal at Athens in 2004 Olympics.
Even if one considers Norman Pritchard an Indian athlete, Rathore was the first Indian in over a century to win an individual silver at the Olympics. He also has three golds at Commonwealth Games – two in Manchester (2002) and one in Melbourne (2006).
For his achievements, he was awarded a Padma Shri (2005), Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (2005) and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal by Indian Army.
He later took retirement from the Army and became a politician. He joined Bhartiya Janata Party. He contested Lok Sabha election from Bikaner in 2014 and won. He is currently the Minister of State for Information and Broadcast Ministry.
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