The scores I shoot reflect my self-respect, and I try to maintain it: shooter Rudrankksh

New Delhi, Jul 17 (PTI) Rudrankksh Patil, who became the second Indian world champion after Abhinav Bindra in the 10m air rifle at the 2022 World Championships, believes comparisons with India's first individual Olympic gold medallist were justified, as people saw similar potential in him, something his performances and scores at various international meets reflected. "I think everyone saw the potential, so that's why I was compared. I asked myself the same question. Usually, I look at the numbers, so I was comparing myself and realised that I have been at that level for four years now, since 2022. "I find the comparison motivating because I like to keep myself at a certain level. I like to maintain my level of shooting. I feel the scores I shoot reflect my self-respect, and I try to maintain that level no matter what. That's my agenda," Rudrankksh told PTI before leaving for the ISSF World Cup (Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun) in Hangzhou, China. Elaborating on his achievements to support his case, he said: "From 2022 to 2026, I have won almost eight world titles -- eight or twelve, I don't remember exactly. Every year, I have won a World Cup medal; last year too, I won a World Cup medal. It is infuriating that things are not happening the way I want, but of course, the world does not work around me." Asked how he dealt with the disappointment of not being picked for the Paris Olympics despite earning a quota place for the country, Rudrankksh said: "By working harder. I think I'm trying to. I, of course, started one more event (50m rifle 3-positions) to increase my chances. "The main agenda for the (federation) is to bring out the best players going into the tournament, so if someone is shooting better than me, they should be selected over me. My goal is to shoot the best so that I can be in the team. That is my main agenda." Remembering the difficult phase he navigated, Rudrankksh said he is now back to the level he had set for himself. "I was having a few panic attacks and breathing issues, so I had to start again from state-level matches just to rebuild that confidence. And when it comes to the World Championship, which I had won -- my first senior medal came at the Worlds -- everything is now being compared to that. But yeah, I'm decently happy with whatever is happening right now," he said. On his current form, he said: "I would say I am in okay form right now -- not the best, not the worst -- but I'm happy to see that I have the energy and support required to bring that form out. I'm looking forward to the upcoming World Cup. "We are leaving today, and I have high expectations that I should be able to reproduce the scores I am achieving in training. That is my goal and agenda for the competition." The champion shooter revealed his target for the Asian Games. "For the Asian Games, I am competing in both events: 3P and air rifle, and this is my second World Cup in 3-positions. So, of course, I am preparing for a medal there. Last time, it wasn't so good, but I maintained the basic score I was shooting in training. "This time, I aim to improve it a little, at least by working with the coaches, because the 3P event has a lot of environmental factors like wind and sunlight, which I am still learning to cope with. "For air rifle, yes, I think I am in good form. At the last Nationals, things went really well. I want to see how I can maintain that score during the World Cups, even when the pressure keeps getting higher and higher. My main goal is obviously to shoot even better as time goes on." Summarising his present thought process, he said: "I think now it's a different phase. I feel the first phase was that I wanted to prove myself. I wanted to, you know, set a baseline for myself -- that I am who I am. "Now I have to do it again while carrying those memories and that experience, so it is beneficial in both ways. I'm just looking forward to seeing what's going to happen." On how he sees himself in the next few years leading up to the Los Angeles Olympics, he said: "I see myself competing mostly at major tournaments, which are actually very important, including the Olympics and the Asian Games. My goal is to be in the present moment. If I am able to nail that, I just need to be in the present moment. It's up to me how much I am able to bring myself into that present moment," he signed off. PTI SR AM AM AM