This is that time of the year when the fate of lakhs of students gets decided across the country with state and central examination boards declaring results for Class X and XII.
There are heartbreaks but there are instances of merit getting acknowledged as well. The sweet success of the months of toil are savored by the students and their families, and the Rathore sisters of Jaipur fall in this category.
Not related in any way to 2004 Athens Olympic silver medallist in men’s double trap Rajyavardhan Rathore, the Rathore sisters, Pragya, 16, and Lakshita, 20, are examples of how pursuing sport, shooting in this case for the sisters, can help in academic excellence.
Pragya is in the news for securing 99.2% in Humanities as a Class XII student of Jaipur’s Jayshree Periwal High School.
An active pistol shooter since 2017, 10m air pistol and 25m pistol are her choice of events, it is clear that the time spent honing her skills at the shooting range has translated into academic excellence as she had also excelled in her Class X CBSE exams with a 97.8%.
Awarded the most versatile genius last year by her school, and the student of the year in 2019, Pragya has featured in five Nationals at a tender age since making her first appearance in 2017 at age 11. Since then, she has been a regular at the national level with outings in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022.
For Pragya and elder sibling Lakshita, following the three Ds of shooting, determination, dedication and discipline, has not only taught them to concentrate better on career goals, the sport has shaped their lives.
If Pragya is blooming into a performer, Lakshita has already achieved a lot at 20. Pursuing her graduation in English (Honours) from Delhi University’s Hansraj College, Lakshita is also a pistol shooter, and has several accolades to her name in 10m air pistol and 25m pistol.
What makes her stand out among peers is her academic achievements as a result of pursuing sport. She cracked the Common Admission Test (CAT) in her 1st attempt with a 99.5 and was offered a seat in all the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and Faculty of Management Studies in Delhi, among other top management colleges.
Shooting has been a life-changer for the Rathore sisters, and with this feature we at indianshooting.com hope their story can inspire many others to take up sport.
