He is modesty personified but Jitu Rai, now the benchmark of excellence in Indian shooting, doesn’t shy away from expressing his “burning desire” to hit the bull’s eye at next year’s Rio Olympics, saying the Arjuna Award will act as additional morale booster.
“It naturally feels great to be rewarded for your achievements. I didn’t know what was in store. But this is one honour that makes me feel delighted,” Jitu said.
“I have a desire, a burning desire within me to do well at the Olympics but it ends there only. I don’t think at all about other things, pressure, expectations and all.
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“Because as far as I am concerned, my belief is that the moment I start thinking about how I will do there, that I am entering the Games after winning these many medals, I will bring unnecessary pressure on myself.
“I enter a tournament thinking in my mind that I have not won anything, done nothing. And the approach will be same for Olympics too, if I am there next year.”