|
|
|
Rajyashree
Kumari
Princess Of Bikaner
(Arjuna Awardee)
|
|
Rajyashree Kumari
was born on June 4, 1953 in Bombay, daughter of Dr. Kami Singh
(Maharaja of Bikaner) and Maharani Sushila Kumari. She stands
unrivalled in target shooting. At the age of seven she had the unique
distinction of winning the National Air Rifle Championship in the below
twelve years of age junior section. Furthermore, and significantly, the
Princess beat all competitors in all age group in air rifle shooting and
won the open championship trophy first at the age of ten and then again at
the age of twelve. At the age of 14 at the All India Selection Trials held
at Ahmedabad during the year 1967 she set a new All India record of
358/400 in Air Rifle Shooting by beating her nearest rival by a big margin
of 33 points. She was declared "Sports Person of the year"
and was awarded the much-coveted "ARJUNA AWARD" in
1969 when she was only 16 years old.
This award is the highest acclaim that India can give to its sportsmen and
sportswomen for outstanding achievement.
|
She comes from a very long line of
great shooters. This
father and daughter team has been responsible for many medals and for the
Indian Flag being raised, at shooting competitions all over the world.
At the 13th National Shooting Championship held in Madras in 1968,
Princess Rajyashree Kumari at the age of 15 won all the items in which she
entered and won the largest number of gold medals in shooting. At the II
Asian Shooting Championships in the individual clay Pigeon trap shooting
she was
placed on the 14th position with a score of 152/200.
When she was only 17, she established National Record scoring 92
out of 100 in Trap shooting (I.R.) at
the National Shooting Championship in 1970 which is still unbeaten.
National
Champion in All India Ladies Clay Pigeon Trap Shooting Championships. At
the National Shooting Championship at Chandigarh in 1975 the Princess won
Second place in Trap Shooting, beating all male competitors. Her father
Dr. Karni Singh, won first place.
Rajyashree
Kumari has one daughter, Anupama Kumari, and a son Sajjan Singh Gohel
Her
father Dr. Karni Singh had also won the "ARJUNA AWARD" in
1961 like herself and both father and daughter winning this award is an
unique achievement and record of which the people of Bikaner are very
proud. |
