Sanjeev Rajput is an Arjuna Awardee Indian shooter who won gold at 2011 Changwon ISSF World Cup. He has also won gold at 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast. He joined in the Indian Navy in his early days and later transformed himself as a sportsman.
Early Life of Sanjeev Rajput
Sanjeev Rajput was born on 5th January in the year 1981 in Haryana. He is the son of Krishan Lal of Jagadhri. Sanjeev Rajput went to SD Public School Jagadhri, Haryana. At the age of early 18, Sanjeev Rajput himself joined in the Indian Navy as a sailor.
Career of Sanjeev Rajput
Sanjeev Rajput began his career as a sailor in Indian Navy. He won three Gold medals and a Silver medal at South Asian Games, Islamabad that was held in the year 2004. In National Championship that was held in the month of October 2004, Sanjeev Rajput proves to be a new find by winning back to back finals with two different weapons on the final day of the National Championship at Reoti Ranges in Indore.
He won the 50 meters Free Rifle three-position and the 10 metres Air Rifle Champion of Champions events. He won a Team Gold in Common Wealth Shooting Championship, Melbourne in March, 2005 in 50 meters Rifle 3 position event. He won bronze medal in the Men`s 50m Rifle Prone at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. He won a bronze medal in the 2006 Asian Games that was held in Doha. He took part in 33rd National Games Guwahati from Services team and won 03 Gold and 01 Silver medal including individual Gold in 50 metres Rifle Prone and 3 position events.
In the year 2007, Sanjeev Rajput won the Olympic berth by making a New National Record of 1170-1200 in ISSF World Cup Fort Benning, USA, by breaking his own record of 1165. He won the second place in Asian Shooting Championship, Kuwait in December, 2007 in 50 metres Rifle 3rd position and a team Bronze in the same event and a team silver in 50 metres Rifle Prone. He contested in the men`s 50 meters rifle prone event at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, but failed to reach the finals. He also contested in the men`s 50 metres rifle three positions. In July 2009, Sanjeev Rajput won 04 Gold and 02 Silver from the SAG Shooting Championship in Dhaka. Sanjeev Rajput also won Gold of Air rifle from Asian Air Gun Championship in Doha that was held in December 2009.
In 2010, Sanjeev Rajput won a double Gold in 50m Rifle 3 position event with the New Meet Record in Common Wealth Shooting Championship in Delhi and also a Silver in 10 metres Air rifle event. Sanjeev Rajput won a silver medal in ISSF World Cup Sydney, 2010 in 10 metres Air Rifle. He won a team silver in 10 metres Air rifle event in Asian Games Guangzhou in China. In 2011, he won gold medal in ISSF World Cup held in Changwon, Korea. He also made a New National Record in the same event by again breaking his own record 3rd time. By winning this gold, he became the third Indian to qualify for the London Olympics.
Sanjeev Rajput finished 8th place at the ISSF World Cup finals in Poland in his Pet event. He also won 05 Gold and a Silver medal in the 34th National Games in Ranchi of Bihar. He is also a Master Chief Petty Officer - II of Indian Navy. In the 2012 Summer Olympics, he could not make it to the finals of the men`s 50-metre rifle three positions at the Royal Artillery Barracks. At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, he won a silver medal in the 50 metres Rifle 3 positions event. In 2016 he won his maiden world cup medal in 50 metres rifle 3 positions event at Baku, where he ended up with a silver medal. He won gold at 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.
Sanjeev Rajput was also conferred with Arjuna Award in August 2010 and is also adjudged the Services Best Sports Person for the year 2009-2010 and was awarded the Trophy.
