Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific_prefix = Colonel

| name = Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore

| native_name =

| native_name_lang =

| honorific_suffix = AVSM

| image = The Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (IC) and Information & Broadcasting, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore addressing after felicitating the winners of the World Youth Boxing Championship 2017, at a function (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| caption =

| office = Cabinet Minister
Government of Rajasthan

| term_start = 30 December 2023

| predecessor = Shakuntala Rawat

| termend =

| 1blankname = Chief Minister

| 1namedata = Bhajan Lal Sharma

| 2blankname = Ministry and Departments

| 2namedata ={{Collapsible list| *Industry and Commerce

Information Technology and Communication
Youth Affairs and Sports
Skill Planning and Entrepreneurship
Sainik Welfare}}

| governor = Haribhau Bagade

| office2 = Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports

| primeminister2 = Narendra Modi

| predecessor2 = Vijay Goel

| successor2 = Kiren Rijiju

| termstart2 = 3 September 2017

| termend2 = 30 May 2019

| office6 = Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha

| constituency6 = Jaipur Rural

| majority6 = {{formatnum:332896}} (32.84%)

| termstart6 = {{start date|2014|05|16|df=yes}}

| termend6 = 6 December 2023

| predecessor6 = Lalchand Kataria

| successor6 = Rao Rajendra Singh

| prior_term =

| office1 = Member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly

| constituency1 = Jhotwara

| majority1 = {{formatnum:147913}} (47.75%)

| termstart1 = {{start date|2023|12|3|df=yes}}

| termend1 =

| predecessor1 = Lalchand Kataria

| successor1 =

| pronunciation =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|01|29|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India

| death_date =

| death_place =

| death_cause =

| resting_place =

| resting_place_coordinates =

| nationality = Indian

| party = Bharatiya Janata Party

| otherparty =

| height = 183 cm{{cite news |last1=Venkat |first1=Rahul |date=16 August 2020 |title=Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore's Olympic silver taught Indian shooters to aim for the stars |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/rajyavardhan-singh-rathore-olympic-medal-silver-athens-2004-indian-shooter |work=Olympics |access-date=2 August 2024}}

| spouse = {{marriage|Gayatri Rathore|16 February 1997}}{{cite web|title=A Sure Shot|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040821/saturday/main1.htm|work=The Tribune|access-date=28 February 2017|date=21 August 2004}}

| relations =

| children = 2

| residence =

| alma_mater = {{ubl|National Defence Academy, Pune|Indian Military Academy, Dehradun}}

| salary =

| net_worth =

| cabinet =

| committees =

| portfolio =

| awards =

| blank1 =

| signature =

| signature_alt =

| website = {{URL|https://rajyavardhanrathore.in/}}

| nickname =

| allegiance = {{flag|India}}

| branch = {{army|India}}

| serviceyears = 1990 {{endash}} 2013

| rank = 25 px Colonel

| unit = 9th Grenadiers

| commands =

| battles = Kargil War, CI/CT operations in J&K

{{cite web|title=Work smart rather than just hard |url=https://www.rediff.com/sports/2006/jun/10chat.htm|work=Rediff India Abroad|access-date=17 May 2019|date=10 June 2006}}

| mawards = {{ubl|Padma Shri|Ati Vishisht Seva Medal|Khel Ratna Award}}

| footnotes = {{Collapsible list

|titlestyle = background-color:#FCF;text-align:center;

|title = Minister of State

|bullets = on

| 24 May 2018 {{endash}} 24 May 2019: Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Information and Broadcasting

| 3 September 2017 – 24 May 2019:Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports

| 9 November 2014 {{endash}} 24 May 2018: Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting

}}

| module2 = {{Infobox sportsperson

| embed =yes

| sport =Shooting

| event =Double trap

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalSport|Men's shooting}}{{cite web |title=ISSF - International Shooting Sport Federation - issf-sports.org |url=https://www.issf-sports.org/athletes/athlete.ashx?personissfid=SHINDM2901197001 |website=www.issf-sports.org |access-date=22 September 2020}}

{{Medal|Country|{{IND}}}}

{{MedalCount | total = yes

| Olympic Games | – | 1 | –

| Commonwealth Games | 3 | 1 | –

| Asian Games | - | 1 | 1

| World Shotgun Championship | - | - | 1

| ISSF World Shooting Championship | 1 | 1 | 2

| Asian Clay Target Championship | 5 | - | -

}}

{{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}} File:Olympic rings.svg

}}

| office3 = Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Information and Broadcasting

| termstart3 = 9 November 2014

| termend3 = 24 May 2018

| office4 = Minister of Information and Broadcasting

| termstart4 = 24 May 2018

| termend4 = 24 May 2019

| primeminister4 = Narendra Modi

| predecessor4 = Smriti Irani

| succeeded4 = Prakash Javadekar

}}

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (born 29 January 1970) is an Indian politician, Olympic medallist in shooting and retired colonel in the Indian Army. He is serving as a cabinet minister at the Industry & Commerce, Youth Affairs & Sports Department in the Government of Rajasthan since December 2023. Rathore was a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha from Jaipur Rural seat since 2014 till 2023.

He won 25 international medals at various championships for Double Trap Shooting including a silver medal at 2004 Summer Olympics in Men's Double Trap event.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mib.gov.in/about-us/ministers-profile/col-rajyavardhan-rathore|title=Rathore Medals}}

Rathore served as a commissioned officer in The Grenadiers regiment of the Indian Army before retiring in 2013 as a colonel. Following his retirement from the army and shooting, he also acted in some advertisements and tv shows after that he later became a member of the parliament for the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2014.

In November 2014, he was made the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting.{{cite news|last1=Vincent|first1=Pheroze|title=Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore: Olympian finds a place|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rajyavardhan-singh-rathore-olympian-finds-a-place/article6581209.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=28 February 2017|date=10 November 2014}} Rathore served as a Cabinet minister with independent charge for Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports from 2017{{cite web|last1=Ravinder|first1=Singh|title=Sports Minister |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/rajyavardhan-rathore-appointed-indias-new-sports-minister/articleshow/60348118.cms|work=The Times of India|access-date=3 September 2017|date=3 September 2017}} until 2019.{{Cite web |title=Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore Biography – About family, political life, awards won, history |url=https://www.elections.in/political-leaders/colonel-rajyavardhan-singh-rathore.html/ |website=Elections in India}}

Personal life

Rajyavardhan was born in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan to Colonel Lakshman Singh Rathore (Retd.), an Army Colonel of Garabdesar, Lunkaransar, Bikaner,{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rajyavardhan-Singh-Rathore|title=Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore}}and Manju Raghav Bhondsi, a teacher,{{cite news |title=गुरु द्रोण की धरती पर यह गांव है वीर जवानों का.. - |url=https://www.jagran.com/haryana/gurgaon-jay-hind-18315043.html |work=Jagran |language=hi |date=13 August 2018 |access-date=23 April 2024}}{{cite news |title=अब राज्यवर्धन सिंह पर टिकी हैं निगाहें |url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/punjab-and-haryana/gurgaon/-/articleshow/3354189.cms |work=Navbharat Times |language=hi |date=12 August 2008 |access-date=23 April 2024}} on 29 January 1970.{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Harsha Kumari |last2=Paul |first2=Rohit |title=Olympic Medallist Rajyavardhan Rathore Now Takes Aim At Rajasthan Assembly |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/olympic-medallist-rajyavardhan-rathore-now-takes-aim-at-rajasthan-assembly-4603916 |work=NDTV |date=24 November 2023 |access-date=23 April 2024}}

His educational qualifications include B.A., Instructor-Weapons (MMG, AGL, Small Arms), Grading Tactics (YO) Course. He was educated at the National Defence Academy, Pune and Infantry School, Mhow.

He married Maj. Gayatri Rathore (nee Kapkoti), hailing from Kapkot-Almora in Uttarakhand, on 16 February 1997. She served as a doctor by profession in the Indian Army. They have a son and a daughter.{{cite web |title=Members : Lok Sabha |url=http://164.100.47.194/Loksabha/Members/MemberBioprofile.aspx?mpsno=4782 |website=164.100.47.194 |access-date=8 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703113830/https://164.100.47.194/Loksabha/Members/MemberBioprofile.aspx?mpsno=4782 |archive-date=3 July 2017}}{{cite news |title=सुसराल में आवभगत से गदगद दिखे केंद्रीय मंत्री - |url=https://www.jagran.com/uttarakhand/almora-13476840.html |work=Jagran |language=hi |date=21 January 2016 |access-date=8 April 2024}}

Military career

Rathore is a graduate of the 77th Course of the National Defence Academy.{{cite web |url=https://nda.nic.in/ndaaa/eminentpersonality.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909204637/http://www.nda.nic.in/ndaaa/eminentpersonality.php |archive-date=9 September 2015 |title=:: Welcome to National Defence Academy ::}} After graduating from the NDA, Rathore attended the Indian Military Academy where he was awarded the Sword of Honor for the best all-round Gentleman Cadet. He was also the recipient of the Sikh Regiment Gold Medal, awarded to the best sportsman of the course.

He was later commissioned in the 9th Grenadiers (Mewar) Regiment on 15 December 1990. He was promoted to lieutenant on 15 December 1992 and to captain on 15 December 1995.{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=1871 |date=9 October 1993 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=390 |date=23 March 1996 |publisher=The Gazette of India}} Rathore fought in the Kargil War, and was promoted to major on 15 December 2000.{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=1464 |date=15 December 2001 |publisher=The Gazette of India}} As part of his career in the Indian Army, he served in Jammu and Kashmir, where he participated in counter-terrorist operations. His regiment was awarded the Army Chief's Citation and the Governor of J&K's Citation for exemplary work. He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel on 16 December 2004,{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=2419 |date=3 December 2005 |publisher=The Gazette of India}} and to his final rank of colonel on 1 May 2009.{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=2207 |date=27 November 2010 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}

Sports career

At the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, Rathore won a gold medal and set a new Commonwealth Games Record of 192 targets out of 200, which still stands. He also won the Team Gold Medal along with Moraad Ali Khan. Rathore went on to successfully defend his Commonwealth Champion title by winning the gold medal at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006. He also won the silver in the Team event with Vikram Bhatnagar. He won gold medals in two World Shooting Championships, at Sydney in 2004 and Cairo in 2006. In addition to these achievements, Rathore won a gold medal at the Olympic Games, a bronze medal at the World Championships, a bronze medal at the World Cup Final, and two gold medals and a bronze medal at the World Cup. He also secured five gold medals and a bronze medal at the Asian Championships and a bronze medal at the Asian Games.

Altogether, Rathore has amassed a total of 13 medals in his sports career.

Rathore rose to prominence when he won the silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics. It was India's first ever individual silver at the Olympics.{{cite web|title=Shooter Rathore strikes silver|url=http://www.rediff.com/sports/2004/aug/17oly-shoot1.htm|work=rediff.com|date=17 August 2004}}{{cite news |title=Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Olympic silver medallist appointed sports minister |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/other-sports/rajyavardhan-singh-rathore-olympic-silver-medalist-appointed-sports-minister/story-ONC1nMPYJ81zdYzD0krhMK.html |access-date=12 August 2023 |work=Hindustan Times |agency=Press Trust of India |date=3 September 2017 |language=en}}

In 2006, Rathore won a bronze medal in the World Championship in Spain, an event held for the top 12 shooters of the world. He was ranked third in the world for the most of 2003 and 2004 and briefly climbed to the first in early 2004 and second after the Athens Olympics. He won a silver at the World Championship in 2003 in Sydney for India after a gap of nearly 40 years. India had not seen a victory since Karni Singh of Bikaner, who won a silver at the 1962 World shooting Championship in Cairo. Rathore is credited with winning the Asian Clay Target gold medal four times in a row from 2003 to 2006. He also holds an Individual bronze medal which was at the Asian Games 2006 in Doha.

Between 2002 and 2006 he won 25 international medals at various championships for Double Trap.

In 2011, Rathore participated in the Asian Clay Target Championship in Kuala Lumpur and won gold. His score of 194 in that tournament equals world record.

Political career

On 10 September 2013, Rathore joined Bharatiya Janata Party after taking retirement from the Indian Army.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Olympic-medallist-Rajyavardhan-Singh-Rathore-joins-BJP/articleshow/22463799.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914051736/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-09-10/india/41936132_1_indian-army-narendra-modi-rajyavardhan-singh-rathore|url-status=live|archive-date=14 September 2013|work=The Times of India|title=Olympic medallist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore joins BJP|date=10 September 2013}} He was elected as an MP in the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Jaipur Rural constituency.{{cite web|title=Narendra Modi to also contest from Vadodara in Lok Sabha Election|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/03/narendra-modi-to-also-contest-from-vadodara-in-lok-sabha-election/|agency=Indo-Asian News Service|date=19 March 2014|publisher=news.biharprabha.com|access-date=19 March 2014}} On 9 November 2014, he was sworn-in as the Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting, under the Narendra Modi government.{{cite news |url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/come-have-breakfast-with-me-and-take-oath-pm-modi-said-rajyavardhan-rathore-to-ndtv-618192 |title='Come, Have Breakfast With Me and Take Oath, PM Modi Said': Rajyavardhan Rathore to NDTV |work=NDTV |date=10 November 2014 |access-date=10 November 2014}} He was appointed the Minister of Sports on 3 September 2017. In May 2018, he became Minister of State (I/C) for Information & Broadcasting. In the 2019 Indian general election, he retained the Jaipur Rural seat by over 3.93 lakh votes and was elected to the Lok Sabha for the second time.{{cite news |title=Lok Sabha 2019 election results: BJP's Rajyavardhan Rathore wins from Jaipur Rural with 64% votes |url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/politics/lok-sabha-2019-election-results-rajyavardhan-rathore-of-bjp-takes-commanding-lead-against-krishna-poonia-in-jaipur-rural-3430141.htm |work=CNBCTV18 |date=23 May 2019 |access-date=30 December 2023}}

In November 2023, Rathore contested from Jhotwara Assembly constituency for the 2023 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election.{{Cite news |last1=Shekhawat |first1=Bal Virendra Singh |last2=Mishra |first2=Nishant |date=4 November 2023 |title=Rajasthan Election 2023: तमाम विरोधों के बीच राज्यवर्धन राठौड़ का नामांकन आज, झोटवाड़ा सीट से बनाए गए हैं भाजपा के प्रत्याशी |url=https://rajasthan.ndtv.in/rajasthan-news/rajasthan-assembly-election-bjp-candidates-rajyavardhan-singh-rathore-nomination-from-jhotwara-seat-45445257 |work=NDTV |language=hi |access-date=1 November 2023}} He defeated Abhishek Chaudhary of the INC by 50,167 votes. After winning the elections,{{cite news |title=Rajasthan polls: BJP's Rajyavardhan Rathore wins from Jhotwara with margin of 50,000 votes |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/assembly-elections/rajasthan-assembly-elections/rajasthan-polls-bjps-rajyavardhan-rathore-wins-from-jhotwara-with-margin-of-50000-votes/articleshow/105703336.cms |work=The Economic Times |agency=PTI |date=3 December 2023 |access-date=10 December 2023}} Rathore resigned from Lok Sabha.{{cite magazine |last1=Saha |first1=Poulomi |last2=Mishra |first2=Himanshu |date=6 December 2023 |title=10 of 12 BJP MPs who won state elections resign from Lok Sabha |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/assembly-election-results-2023-bjp-mps-who-won-polls-resign-from-lok-sabha-2472653-2023-12-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210092905/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/assembly-election-results-2023-bjp-mps-who-won-polls-resign-from-lok-sabha-2472653-2023-12-06 |archive-date=10 December 2023 |magazine=India Today |access-date=10 December 2023}} On 30 December 2023, he took oath as a cabinet minister in the Government of Rajasthan.{{cite news |title=Rajasthan Cabinet Expansion: Rajyavardhan among 22 new ministers {{!}} Full list |url=https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/rajasthan-cabinet-expansion-rajyavardhan-rathore-kirodi-meena-20-others-take-oath-as-ministers-check-full-list-here-11703936043826.html |work=Mint |date=30 December 2023 |access-date=30 December 2023}}

Awards and recognitions

2005 – Padma Shri{{cite web | url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | title=Padma Awards | publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India | date=2015 | access-date=21 July 2015 | archive-date=15 October 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | url-status=dead }}
2004{{endash}}2005 – the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (Highest Sporting Honour of India).
2003{{endash}}2004 – Arjuna Award
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), military award for exceptional service, presented by the President of India on behalf of the Government of India.
Rathore was the chosen flag bearer for India during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.{{cite news|date=4 August 2008|title=ŠRathore to be India's flag bearer in Beijing|publisher=ndtv.com|url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/showsports.aspx?id=SPOEN20080060015}}
Rathore was the chosen flag bearer for India during the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia
1990 – the Sword of Honour (For the Best All Round Officer Cadet at the Indian Military Academy).
1990 – the Sikh Regiment Gold Medal (For the Best Sportsmen at the Indian Military Academy).
1989 – the "Blazer" (Highest sports award at the National Defence Academy, Pune, India).

=Military awards=

style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Padma Shri Ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

colspan="4"| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Special Service Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_Operation_Vijay_star.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_Operation_Vijay_medal.svg|width=106}}

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}}

class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"

colspan="2" |Padma Shri

|colspan="2" |Ati Vishist Seva Medal

Special Service Medal

|Operation Vijay Star

|Operation Vijay Medal

Sainya Seva Medal

|50th Anniversary of Independence Medal

|20 Years Long Service Medal

|9 Years Long Service Medal

References

External links

{{Official|https://rajyavardhanrathore.in/}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20080727114938/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1819129_1819134_1825951,00.html "Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore"], No 55 on Time's list of "100 Olympic Athletes To Watch"
[http://chillyrathore.blogspot.com/ Weblog maintained by Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore for the 2008 Beijing Olympics]
[https://archive.today/20130103105714/http://www.indiatwo.com/olympics/Rajyavardhan-Singh-Rathore Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore Images & Videos]

{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament
for Jaipur Rural |years=2014 – present}}

{{s-ttl|title=Minister of Information and Broadcasting|years=14 May 2018 – 31 May 2019
Minister of State with Independent Charge}}

{{succession box

| before = Leander Paes

| title = Flagbearer for India

| years = Beijing 2008

| after = Sushil Kumar

}}