The lesson revolves around the inspirational story of Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, an Indian army officer, and his historic achievement at the 28th Olympic Games in Athens on 17th August 2004. Rathore won a silver medal in the men’s double trap shooting event, making it India’s first-ever individual silver medal in shooting at the Olympics.
Key Highlights
- Feelings After Winning: Rathore expressed immense joy and pride in winning the medal for India, stating that it was not just personal success but a moment that made the entire country proud.
- Moment Draped in the National Flag: Being wrapped in the Indian flag during the medal ceremony was deeply emotional for Rathore. He felt a profound sense of relief and accomplishment in representing his country.
- Preparations Before the Event: Rathore maintained a balanced mindset, dealing with anxiety through humor and relaxation while visualizing his target and game plan.
- Staying Focused: During the critical moments of the match, he regained his aggression and stayed completely focused on the target, blocking out everything else. This mental strategy helped him excel in the final stages.
20 MCQs with Answers
- Who is the main character in the lesson?
- a) Abhinav Bindra
- b) Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore
- c) Milkha Singh
- d) P.T. Usha
- Answer: b) Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore
- In which Olympic Games did Rathore win his medal?
- a) 2000 Sydney
- b) 2004 Athens
- c) 2008 Beijing
- d) 2012 London
- Answer: b) 2004 Athens
- What event did Rathore participate in?
- a) Archery
- b) Rifle Shooting
- c) Men’s Double Trap Shooting
- d) Skeet Shooting
- Answer: c) Men’s Double Trap Shooting
- Which medal did Rathore win?
- a) Gold
- b) Silver
- c) Bronze
- d) None
- Answer: b) Silver
- What was unique about Rathore’s medal?
- a) It was the first gold for India
- b) It was India’s first individual silver in shooting
- c) It was won by a civilian
- d) It was a team medal
- Answer: b) It was India’s first individual silver in shooting
- What did Rathore feel after receiving the medal?
- a) Tired
- b) Relieved and proud
- c) Disappointed
- d) Nervous
- Answer: b) Relieved and proud
- Why did Rathore wrap himself in the flag?
- a) To show off
- b) As a symbol of national pride
- c) To feel warm
- d) To celebrate with friends
- Answer: b) As a symbol of national pride
- How did Rathore manage anxiety before the event?
- a) By meditating all the time
- b) By talking to others and cracking jokes
- c) By isolating himself
- d) By overtraining
- Answer: b) By talking to others and cracking jokes
- What helped Rathore in the final stages of the competition?
- a) Aggression and focus
- b) Relaxing completely
- c) Ignoring the target
- d) Listening to music
- Answer: a) Aggression and focus
- What did Rathore visualize during his preparations?
- a) Winning the medal
- b) The target and game plan
- c) His family cheering for him
- d) The audience
- Answer: b) The target and game plan
- What happens when aggression is lost, according to Rathore?
- a) Focus increases
- b) Natural shooting ability is lost
- c) Shooting becomes easier
- d) Targets appear closer
- Answer: b) Natural shooting ability is lost
- How old was Rathore during the Olympics?
- a) 32 years
- b) 34 years
- c) 36 years
- d) 30 years
- Answer: b) 34 years
- What did Rathore say about the balance in preparation?
- a) Focus only on training
- b) Maintain a healthy mix of relaxation and focus
- c) Avoid jokes and distractions
- d) Train without breaks
- Answer: b) Maintain a healthy mix of relaxation and focus
- What did Rathore see in the final moments?
- a) The audience
- b) The target only
- c) The competitors
- d) His family
- Answer: b) The target only
- Which day did Rathore win his medal?
- a) 16th August 2004
- b) 17th August 2004
- c) 18th August 2004
- d) 19th August 2004
- Answer: b) 17th August 2004
- What represents the country for Rathore?
- a) Anthem
- b) National Flag
- c) Medal
- d) Uniform
- Answer: b) National Flag
- What does Rathore say about the role of emotions during the match?
- a) Ignore emotions
- b) Control and channel them
- c) Let emotions flow freely
- d) Suppress them entirely
- Answer: b) Control and channel them
- What is the main theme of the lesson?
- a) Winning is everything
- b) National pride and focus
- c) Competition is unnecessary
- d) Sportsmanship over victory
- Answer: b) National pride and focus
- What was Rathore’s profession?
- a) Civilian shooter
- b) Army officer
- c) Police officer
- d) Teacher
- Answer: b) Army officer
- What did Rathore focus on during his final shots?
- a) The medal
- b) The crowd
- c) Only the target
- d) His competitors
- Answer: c) Only the target
Reading Comprehension
A. Answer the following questions:
1. What is special about Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore winning the silver medal in shooting?
Ans. The special thing about Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore’s winning the silver medal in shooting was that it was India’s first individual silver medal in Olympic history in a shooting event.
2. What makes the country feel proud?
Ans. The country feels proud when its people won honours and victories at the international level.
3. Why did he wrap the country’s flag around himself at the presentation?
Ans. He wrapped the country’s flag around himself at the presentation because he wanted something close to the symbol which represents the country.
4. What would he do whenever he needed to focus on the sport?
Ans. Whenever he need focus, he would close his eyes and think of the target how he would do it, how his emotions would be, what was his game plan for the match and everything.
5. Why is aggression important in a sport?
Ans. Aggression is important in sports. If you lose your aggression, you lose your natural way of shooting.
B. Choose the correct alternative:
1. The 28th Olympic Games were held in
(a) Sydney
(b) Seoul
(c) Athens
(d) London
2. How did he feel when he received the silver medal:
(a) absolutely great
(b) happy
(c) a sense of relief
(d) a sense of pride?
3. Whenever I felt that I was getting anxious I would :
(a) sing a song
(b) smile a bit
(c) think of the target
(d) relax, crack a joke and talk to somebody.
Ans. 1. (c), 2. (a), 3. (d).