Like father, like daughter

Indian shooter Rajeshwari Kumari said she was excited to compete in front of her father, Olympic Council of Asia Acting President Raja Randhir Singh, after she won a silver medal in the women's trap team event at Fuyang Yinhu Sports Centre on Sunday.

Team China won the gold in 357 shots, 20 ahead of the silver-winning Indian team. Kazakhstan was one shot behind the Indians, taking the bronze medal.

"He gives me a lot of support. I am very proud. He is giving us the medal (at the ceremony this afternoon). It's exciting," Kumari, 31, said. "He is not my coach, but he watches me a lot and gives me feedback. When I got an Olympic berth he said he was proud of me."

Singh, also an established shooter, won the India's first Asian Games shooting title at the 1978 Bangkok Games.

He took part in five Olympic Games before retiring in 1994 and then made the transition into a successful sports administrator.

"I am very happy that she won, and I am very proud that she's won the medal for India. For me, (the emotion) is double, because I'm the acting president of the OCA and she has won a silver medal.

"I will obviously feel a great deal of pride. For me, (because it is) the Asian Games, I am involved more."

Coincidently, Singh's father, Bhalindra Singh, then Asian Games Federation (OCA predecessor) president, watched him competing at the 1982 Delhi Games, where he won a medal.

"The same thing happened in 1982 when my father (Bhalindra Singh) was president and I won a medal. So history is repeating itself and the legacy for the family in the sport continues."

He said he understands that his daughter was shooting under a lot of pressure.

"I think (there was) more pressure (on Kumari because) I had won the medal when my father was president. That's a huge weight on her mind — she wants to do the same.

"I (have been) watching her shoot for a long time. I know the pressure.

"She is shooting very well. I think she has a tremendous future. She just needs to concentrate, keep focused, and don't overshoot."

For Kumari, competing in Hangzhou is just a happy experience.

"It has been a great Games and I have loved every moment of it. It's one of the best Games I have ever seen and so well organized. The Athletes' Village is amazing.

"I have absolutely no complaints. There is nothing about it that I have thought, 'this or that could be better'."

YU YILEI in Hangzhou

yuyilei@chinadaily.com.cn