Hangzhou, China, October 1, 2023: The Acting President of the Olympic Council of Asia, Raja Randhir Singh, has had some proud moments in his long and distinguished career as an Olympic athlete and administrator.
But few – if any – can have matched his emotions on Sunday at the Fuyang Shooting Centre during the 19th Asian Games.
Raja Randhir had the honour of presenting the silver medal in the women’s team trap to his daughter, Rajeshwari “Ria” Kumari, making her Asian Games debut.
Ria, Manisha Keer and Preeti Rajak scored a total of 337 over five rounds, 20 targets behind the runaway champions from China, Li Qingnian, Wu Cuicui and Zhang Xinqiu, who shot a world record 357.
At the prize presentation later in the day, Raja Randhir presented the bronze medals to Kazakhstan and then the silver medals to India. His 31-year-old daughter Ria was third in line, and father and daughter shared s small hug on the podium.
Later, as the athletes and presenters shared the podium for the photo shoot, Ria put her hands on the shoulders of her father – a touching moment for the onlookers.
“Yes, I am very proud of the fact that the team’s won a medal and especially my daughter being a part of it,” said the OCA Acting President.
“So, I am very excited, and to present the medals as well.”
Raja Randhir said it brought back memories of his father, Bhalindra Singh, former President of the Asian Games Federation.
“In 1982 when I was a shooter, we also won the silver medal, the men’s team, and my father presented the medals, so it’s a good memory and leaves a good legacy for the family.”
Randhir had won the gold medal for India at the 1978 Asian Games in Bangkok before his team silver in New Delhi four years later.
The bronze medals on Sunday in women’s team trap were grabbed by Mariya Dmitriyenko, Aizhan Dosmagambetova and Anastassiya Prilepina from Kazakhstan with 336 hits.
