Patiala: Olympic silver medallist shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore is not unduly worried with his recent form slump and is confident of peaking at the right time to settle for nothing less than the gold at the Beijing Games.
"I am happy that my form is not great at the moment and my hard work would definitely pay in the coming few tournaments so that the Olympics come at the right moment," said Rathore.
The 34-year-old Armyman, however, admitted he needed to work harder to meet the country's high expectations from him.
"After winning a silver medal, I feel that I need to bag the gold for the country and that would do justice to my career," he told reporters last night after a practice session at the Indian Masters.
Rathore said he would leave for a training stint abroad to get in good nick before the Olympics and added he had been working hard on his fitness and synchronisation.
"For a shooter, the co-ordination of hand and eyes has to be just perfect, and that is what I have been trying to attain," said the world's third best double trap shooter.
Rathore said he would try to get maximum exposure around the globe and his tours would take him to the United States and Europe.
"The more I travel the better it would be for my shooting sessions."
Rathore said if Indian shooters performed to their standards, they would surely return with laurels from Beijing.
"Now it is up to the shooters to prove their mettle and with nine shooters in the fray for the mega event in China, the chances are great," he said.
On shortage of ammunition for shooters in the country, the Delhi-based marksman diplomatically said "the Sports Authority of India has more shooters to feed and although the hardship is faced by the (National Rifle) Association (of India), the government has been doing its bit."
